Ukrzaliznytsia has significantly lowered the tariff for transportation of containers on transit from the port of Illichivsk to the western border of Ukraine, the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia informed the CFTS portal.

"The tariff policy for 2016 freight year set the tariffs for transportation of containers on container trains on the route Illichivsk Ferry - Western border crossings at a level that is 60% lower than it was in 2015," the press service of Ukrzaliznytsia said in response to an information request from CFTS.

In addition, Ukrzaliznytsia noted that the countries participating in the creation of a Trans-Caspian route to China have agreed preferential tariff rates for transit cargo in their own 40-foot containers (FEU) on inventory platforms as part of container trains. The meeting devoted to this was held in Baku in mid-January, with the participation of the heads of the railways of Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.

However, according to the CFTS portal, this through tariff is still at the consultation stage.

Related: First Train Bypassing Russia Departs, Tariff Unclear

Ukrzaliznytsia also said that it is possible to use alternative routes if Russia bans transit of Ukrainian cargo: the Illichivsk-Batumi and Alat-Aktau Port ferries in Central Asia and the Caucasus; with the participation of maritime transport through the Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to the European Union, the Middle East, and China.

As reported, Russia banned the processing of Ukrainian transit cargoes at train stations on the border with Ukraine on 1 January 2016. Currently, cargoes from Ukraine that are being transported to other countries through Russia are first sent to Belarus, where they are processed for transit through Russian territory.