Rail traffic along the International North-South Transport Corridor from January to May 2023 jumped by 41.8%, to 4 million tons, Report informs referring to Kommersant newspaper.
The main share fell on the western route connecting Russia with Iran through Azerbaijan - 3.6 million tons (an increase of 37.9%). On other corridors, the dynamics is higher, but the volume of cargo transportation is less.
The growth of traffic on the eastern route was due to a number of benefits. For example, at the end of last year, a 20% discount was introduced for container transportation along the eastern route through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Analysts considered that the increase in cargo traffic along the corridor will continue. Given that restrictions on the supply of goods from the West can only increase, the demand for the transportation of goods in this direction will grow.
Despite a number of infrastructure restrictions, growth will still continue even before the completion of the construction of the Rasht-Astara section. Russia and Iran signed an agreement on financing the section on May 17, Moscow will provide a state loan for 1.3 billion euros out of the required 1.6 billion euros.