The Belarusian government has decided to raise rail freight fees by an average of eight per cent. The country, an important transit country for the increasing amount of goods coming into Europe from China, may seek to benefit from the growing freight volumes transiting its network.
As per a decision of Belarus’ Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, rail freight fees in the country are now eight per cent higher on average. The Ministry says that the increase concerns “a change in tariffs for the transport of goods via rail.”
The ministry mentions that the final cost of transportation depends on various factors, such as cargo type, the owner of the rolling stock and distance travelled. As such, the eight per cent increase is not universally applicable to all freight trips through Belarus. Moreover, Belarusian Railways may independently introduce discounts, says the ministry.
China-Europe traffic
The fee raise comes amid growing demand for rail transportation between China and Europe through Russia and Belarus. This northern route is relatively cheap as opposed to the Middle Corridor through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region, and the volatile security situation in the Red Sea has prompted many shipping companies to look for transportation alternatives over land.
Consequently, China-Europe traffic through Russia has grown by 44 per cent since the start of 2024. As Belarus is the only point of entry into the EU for trains coming from China through Russia, it is sure to also benefit from the increased demand. The country may now look to profit from this situation, raising rail freight fees to generate more revenue.
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