Russian Railways records 3% increase in freight traffic between Russia, China in 4M to 62.7 mln tonnes

MOSCOW. May 25 (Interfax) - Freight traffic on the Russian Railways network in links with China increased 3% in January-April 2026 year-on-year and amounted to 62.7 million tonnes, the company said.

Including container traffic, during this period it increased 5.9% to 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

A total of 54.8 million tonnes of cargo were sent to China (+2% compared to January-April 2025) in 4M 2026, including: 33.7 million tonnes of coal (+0.3%), 4.7 million tonnes of iron ore (+7.9%), 4.6 million tonnes of oil cargo (+19.9%) and 2.5 million tonnes of fertilizers (+18%).

From China, 7.8 million tonnes of cargo were transported (+10.8%), including: 1.6 million tonnes of chemicals (+5.4%), 1.2 million tonnes of consumer goods (+31.5%), 0.8 million tonnes of non-ferrous ore (+29.1%) and 0.6 million tonnes of cars and components (+12.5%).

A total of 43.9 million tonnes were transported via ports in links with China in 4M (+6%) and 18.8 million tonnes via border crossings (-3.2%).

According to Russian Railways, Zabaikalsk leads among land border crossings, through which 7.8 million tonnes of cargo passed in both directions during this period (+4.3%). Container traffic through this border crossing increased 32% to 197,400 TEU.

Earlier in April, Russian Railways Deputy Head Irina Magnushevskaya told journalists that the holding plans to increase freight traffic with China 1.7% in 2026 to 190 million tonnes.