State-run Russian Railways announced a first half year-on-year increase in container volume of 20.2 per cent, and an overall freight increase of 12.2 per cent, according to Russian Transport Daily Report.

Over the six-month period container volume increased to 8.5 million tons with coke rising to 6.4 million tons, up 47.3 per cent and coal to 143.6 million tons, up 12 per cent.

Oil and oil products increased to 125 million tons (up 10 per cent), iron and manganese ore at 49.7 million tons (up 11.per cent), ferrous metals at 35.6 million tons (up 20.4per cent) and scrap iron, 9.2 million tons (up 45.7 per cent).

Chemical and mineral fertilisers hit 23 million tons (up 22.6 per cent), cement at 14.6 million tons (up 13.7 per cent), timber to 22 million tons (up 6.2 per cent), construction materials at 62 million tons (up 5.2 per cent), non-ferrous metal ore and sulphur materials at 12.5 million tons (up 15.9 per cent), chemicals and soda to 14.4 million tons (up 26.1 per cent), industrial commodities and moulding materials at 16.8 million tons (up 30.6 per cent).

 Source: schednet