OREANDA-NEWS. Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces that it has started supplying coal concentrate to the People's Republic of China by rail through new border checkpoint Makhalino — Hunсhun.

The first cargo train was dispatched in early August along the international transport corridor linking the south of Russia’s Primorye Region with China’s Jilin Province. The first 30-wagon convoy delivered Yakutugol Holding Company OAO’s coal to Chinese recipients through the new border checkpoint Makhalino (Russia) — Hunchun (China).

Over 200 officials from Primorye Region, Khasan District, the Far East Railroad, Russian Railways OAO and Chinese Railways attended the opening ceremony for the new border checkpoint.

“Until now, Mechel made major coal deliveries to Chinese customers only through sea ports. The opening of this railroad route will enable Mechel to diversify its logistics and make better time on deliveries to China, which is the world’s largest consumer of this type of fuel,” Mechel Mining Management Company OOO’s Chief Executive Officer Pavel Shtark noted.