Ukrainian Railways to distribute 100% of grain hoppers via Prozorro Sale auctions in Nov

MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Railways will distribute all grain hoppers provided by the Center for Transport Logistics through auctions in the Prozorro Sale online trading system, Ukrainian media said with the reference to a statement made by Ukrainian Railways Department of Commerce Deputy Director Valery Tkachev at a meeting with grain market actors on Thursday.

The base rate for using grain hoppers of the Center for Transport Logistics will grow to 1,000 hryvni per day (ex VAT) in November because of the growing demand, Tkachev said. The rate will apply to ascending price auctions in the Prozorro.Sale online trading system. Ukrainian Railways will change the format to descending price auctions if bidders are not active enough.

Tkachev also announced an auction to be held on October 24 by the current rate of 600 hryvni per day. This is an ascending price auction where Ukrainian Railways will offer train shipments: ten lots of 50 grain hoppers. Their speed is expected to grow. The train shipments will not fall under unloading area restrictions, and loading will be allowed throughout November.

In turn, agrarians proposed considering a possible distribution of grain hoppers in November in auctions involving grain market actors. They also called for longer-term auctions and a larger daily supply of hoppers.

Tkachev promised that Ukrainian Railways would consider the initiatives but warned it would be unable to offer more than 300 grain hoppers per day, considering that its entire fleet neared 5,000.

Grain hoppers with gauge-changeable bogies are not in demand, Tkachev said, adding that Ukrainian Railways offers anyone wishing to apply to the Center for Transport Logistics and get such grain hoppers at a base rate of 600 hryvni per day.