Lemtrans, the largest private railway operator in Ukraine, transported 51.9 million tons of various types of cargo in 2017. The company announced this in a statement, citing preliminary data.
The company transported 19.35 million tons of coal, 19.30 million tons of iron ore, 6.12 million tons of ferrous metals, 3.46 million tons of flux, and 2.95 million tons of coke in 2017.
As reported, Lemtrans transported 60.226 million tons of cargo in 2016 (a 6.5% reduction compared with 2015). Thus, its transport volume in 2017 reduced by 13.7% compared with 2016.
Among the factors that had the most significant impact on the company’s cargo transport volumes in 2017, the company listed infrastructure constraints, problems with traction rolling stock, and the long idle times of wagons during the initial and final loading operations.
"One of the key events in 2017 was the cessation of railway links with the non-government-controlled territories in the Donbas and, consequently, the blocking of rolling stock. This factor certainly influenced the market as a whole, but a shortage of locomotives had the most significant impact on the year’s results. For this reason, we were unable to fill our shippers’ orders completely. However, constant improvement of the quality of services, optimization of internal logistics, and reduction of transportation costs remain the main priorities of our company," Lemtrans’ General Director Volodymyr Mezentsev said.
As part of the implementation of its strategic goals in 2017, the company continued the program for upgrading its rolling stock. Annual investment amounted to about UAH 540 million.
Lemtrans, a limited liability company, organizes transportation of goods with its own rolling stock, provides freight-forwarding services, provides informational support for freight transportation, and repairs rolling stock. The SCM Group owns 100% of the shares in Lemtrans.
