Russian Railways reports a significant reduction of timber cargo export from Russia in December 2021

Russian Railways told Kommersant that over 19 days of December, timber cargo loading to be exported from the Russian Federation reduced by 13.5% in the railway network (1.8 million t loaded). At the same time, timber loading volumes for domestic freight keep growing: +5.1%, up to 1.2 million t.

This was triggered by Chinese authorities’ decision to limit timber cargo supply through two railway border crossings with Russia – Grodekovo-Suifenhe and Zabaykalsk-Manchuria – from November 30 and December 1. These border crossings stopped receiving non-containerized cargo. A jam generated on the border, and Russian Railways started re-routing cargoes. The ban was partially lifted a week later, but the difficult situation remained: 1,200 railcars with timber cargo were idling at Chinese border crossings as of December 14.