Moving Ukrainian cargo via Moldova will be 50% cheaper until the end of the year, according to Kyiv’s Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. “This is another practical solution for Ukrainian exporters in the conditions of Russian terror in the Black Sea”, he said on Telegram.
The agreement between Koretskyi and his Moldovan counterpart Vasyl Tofan was finalised earlier this week and is retroactive to Monday, 10 August. Ukrainian Railways (UZ) asked for the discount just last week, after the situation at Ukraine’s port of Odesa significantly worsened and forced shipping lines to look for alternative routes.
Tofan accepted UZ’s request despite reports of concerns from its farmers. On the other hand, Moldova and its rail freight company CFM benefit from higher volumes coming from Ukraine, as it has already happened during the war. Still, CFM does not have the necessary assets, especially locomotives, to handle more trains and is asking UZ to chip in.