{"id":201471,"date":"2025-04-17T16:36:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T06:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=61649"},"modified":"2025-04-17T16:36:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T06:36:34","slug":"russia-seeks-to-rapidly-boost-capacity-for-belarusian-freight-transit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=201471","title":{"rendered":"Russia seeks to rapidly boost capacity for Belarusian freight transit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Belarus, Russia\u2019s most staunch ally, really only has one avenue for international trade. Since it borders the EU and Ukraine north, west and south, the only way out for Belarusian freight is eastwards through Russia. It greatly depends on Moscow economically, so a plan to rapidly boost transport capacity for its goods through Russia is probably a welcome one.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Measures to improve infrastructure between Belarus and the port of Russia\u2019s northwest (think Saint Petersburg, but also Murmansk) are not exactly new. Yet, Russian Railways (RZD) has now come out with a clear and ambitious target. By 2027, Belarusian goods in that direction should reach 20 million tonnes, according to director of international cooperation Anton Kozlov.<\/p>\n

By comparison, Russia\u2019s capacity for Belarusian transit to the ports was 12,3 million tonnes in 2023. At the time, that was already an increase of 2,3 times compared to 2022.<\/p>\n

A high priority project<\/h2>\n

RZD makes clear that it considers the project to be rather important. Construction works are progressing ahead of schedule, and further tangible results are expected this year.<\/p>\n

It is not only Belarus that depends on Russia for its rail freight business. RZD says that Belarus\u2019 importance is growing in the context of international freight corridors. With the Ma\u0142aszewicze border crossing into Poland, Belarus is the main window to Europe for Chinese freight, which by and large transits Russia.<\/p>\n