OREANDA-NEWS. April 08, 2014. According to the latest figures, the Russian Railways' network loaded 104.4 million tons of freight in March 2014, a decline of 0.4% compared to March 2013.

Freight turnover in March 2014 increased by 8.1% compared to the same month last year and amounted to 198.1 billion tariff ton-kilometres. Freight turnover taking into account empty wagon runs increased by 8.6% during the same month and amounted to 255.2 billion ton- km.

According to the latest figures, loading in January-March 2014 amounted to 293.9 million tons, the same figure as during the first quarter of 2013. In the first quarter of 2014, the railways shipped the following goods. Figures in brackets indicate the change compared to the first quarter in 2013.

coal – 77.2 m tons (-1%);

coke – 2.8 m tons (-4.6%);

oil and petroleum products – 66.2 m tons (+2.9%);

iron and manganese ores – 26.4 m tons (-0.5%);

ferrous metals – 17.4 m tons (-2.7%);

ferrous metal scrap – 2.7 m tons (-3.1%);

chemical and mineral fertilisers – 13 m tons (+11.3%);

cement – 5.8 m tons (-8.4%);

timber – 9.9 m tons (+11.7%);

grain and milled products – 3.6 m tons (+50.9%);

construction materials – 30.7 m tons (-9.5%);

non-ferrous ores and sulphur feedstock – 4.6 m tons (-6.7%);

chemicals and soda – 6.6 m tons (-3%);

industrial raw materials and moulded materials – 7.3 m tons (+8%).

Freight turnover since the beginning of 2014 amounted to 561 billion tariff ton-kilometres (6.7%). Freight turnover taking into account empty wagon runs was 725.9 billion ton-km (7.9%).