OREANDA-NEWS. In November 2014, freight volume was at 103.1 mln tonnes (down 0.3% or 0.4 mln tonnes year-on-year), while freight turnover (excluding empty runs) was at 175.2 bln tonne-kilometres (up 3.1% or 5.3 bln tonne-kilometres).

Coal. In November 2014, 28.5 mln tonnes of coal were transported (up 2.9% year-on-year), while freight turnover amounted to 71.2 bln tonne-kilometres (up 3.5% year-on-year).

This growth was attributed to several factors, primarily increased coal production, and to a lesser extent development of coal deposits, and continued international demand for coal, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Growth in freight turnover for coal resulted from increasing transportation distance - as more freight is transported to the Far Eastern ports for onward shipment to Asia.

Coal prices in November 2014 were at USD 73.1 per tonne - a USD 10.9 decrease compared to November 2013.

Oil and petroleum products. In November 2014, transportation volumes for oil and petroleum products, excluding liquefied petroleum gas, were at 22.0 mln tonnes (up 14.9%), with freight turnover at 29.4 bln tonne-kilometres (up 3.7%).

Freight turnover for oil and petroleum products increased due to growth in domestic turnover from 11.3 mln tonnes in November 2013 to 11.9 mln tonnes in November 2014 (up 6%).

According to CDU TEK, oil production in Russia increased by 0.7% to 481.547 mln tonnes during the first 11 months of this year y-o-y. At the same time, oil exports from Russia decreased by 2.7% to 184.911 mln tonnes over 11 months.

Increased domestic oil production has had a positive impact - primarily on rail transportation volumes. This is growth is mainly due to tax incentives for oil refining, and the fact that Russian Railways' tariffs remained unchanged (the monopoly is set to index transportation tariffs in 2015), and the commissioning of new and modernised refining capacities in Siberia and the Urals regions has also had an impact.

Growth in petroleum products transportation was primarily due to increased fuel oil transportation volumes.

Brent crude prices were at USD 70.2 per barrel, as prices continue to decline.

Liquefied petroleum gas. In November 2014, transportation volumes were at 2.6 mln tonnes (up 8.0%), with freight turnover at 6.1 bln tonne-kilometres (up 8.3%).

Construction materials. In November 2014, the total volume of construction materials freight was at 11.8 mln tonnes (down 20.8%), with freight turnover at 8.0 bln tonne-kilometres (down 0.3%). Delivery volumes decreased due to the completion of Sochi Olympic Games infrastructure construction projects in Sochi.

Ferrous metals. In November 2014, transportation of ferrous metals was at 6.1 mln tonnes (down 0.6%), with freight turnover at 9.8 bln tonne-kilometres (up 6.9%).

Steel prices stood at USD 475 per tonne, down by 9.5% year-on-year.

Iron Ore. In November 2014, transportation of iron ore amounted to 9.2 mln tonnes (down 0.4%) and freight turnover amounted to 9.0 bln tonne-kilometres (down 0.1%).

The price of iron ore stood at USD 71.3 per tonne, down almost twofold year-on-year.

Scrap. In November 2014, transportation of scrap remained flat at 1.4 mln tonnes (down 6.7%), freight turnover was at 1.3 bln tonne-kilometres (up 7.8%).

Non-ferrous metals, ores and concentrates. In November 2014, freight volumes for non-ferrous metals equalled 1.5 mln tonnes (down 23.7%), freight turnover was at 2.7 bln tonne-kilometres (down 4.5%).

Copper prices were at USD 6,123 per tonne, down 13.4% year-on-year.

Grain. In November 2014, grain transportation was at 2.1 mln tonnes (up 16.7%), freight turnover was at 3.4 bln tonne-kilometres (down 0.1%). Grain prices in November 2014 were at USD 240 per tonne, up 4.8% year-on-year.

Fertilisers. In November 2014, fertiliser transportation volume was flat at 4.0 mln tonnes, freight turnover was at 6.8 bln tonne-kilometres (up 2.8%). DAP was priced at USD 660 per tonne, 1.5 times up year-on-year.