UKRZALIZNYTS' CARGO BASE DECREASED BY 6% IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2026

According to the results of the first half of 2026, Ukrzaliznytsia transported 74.7 million tons of cargo, which is 6.2% less than the same period last year.
This was reported by the Central Transport Service with reference to the UZ presentation presented at a meeting with business associations.
The main factor in the reduction in transportation was the decrease in the volume of transportation: iron and manganese ore (–6.1 million tons), coal (–1.5 million tons), building materials (–1.3 million tons). At the same time, grain (by 2.7 million tons), oil and oil products (by 1.4 million tons) showed growth.
In total, UZ transported 35 million tons of cargo for export during this period. Transportation volumes in January-June compared to the corresponding period last year decreased by 9.6%.
In addition to ore, a decline in export transportation was recorded in such segments as: iron and manganese ore - by 31% in annual terms, or by 5.3 million tons; cement - by 45%, or by 400 thousand tons; ferrous metals - by 1.2% or by 30 thousand tons. At the same time, the volume of export transportation of grain cargo increased by 19.5% y/y.
In the direction of the ports of Greater Odessa, 22.6 million tons were transported for export in six months (-8.7% y/y). Exports in the direction of western border crossings amounted to 11.6 million tons (-9.7% y/y). Another 800 thousand tons of cargo were exported through the ports of the Danube (–28.2% y/y).
As representatives of Ukrzaliznytsia noted at the meeting, they see the main reasons for the reduction in transportation volumes in military strikes on the railway infrastructure and rising electricity prices, which caused a deterioration in competitive positions and a decrease in production volumes of domestic enterprises.
In turn, Serhiy Kudryavtsev, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Association of Ferroalloys "UkrFA", noted that, in particular, in the segment of manganese ore transportation, the main driver of the decline in cargo flow was a sharp increase in tariffs due to an increase in tariff distances, as well as an increase in fees for the use of gondolas.
"The planned indexation of railway tariffs by 30% could be a fatal blow to our business and further reduce the volume of transportation and, consequently, the tariff revenues of Ukrzaliznytsia," Kudryavtsev noted.
In his opinion, business, UZ and the government need to develop and launch a special regime to support railway transportation for enterprises located in regions close to the hostilities and the contact line. This may include special discounts to the transportation tariff, a separate procedure for using UZ fleet wagons and other solutions that will support the economic activity of enterprises and the volume of product transportation in regions close to the hostilities and the contact line.
Recall that in June the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine published the order "On Amendments to the Coefficients Applied to the Tariffs of the Collection of Tariffs for the Transportation of Goods by Rail within Ukraine and Related Services".
This document proposes to increase the level of tariffs for the transportation of goods within Ukraine from 1 August 2026 by 30%.