The Ukrainian Railways joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) will not ban the transportation of grain in gondola cars in the near future.
Ukrzaliznytsia’s Board Chairman Oleksandr Kamyshin announced this late on 8 February.
"After consulting with farmers, Minister of Agrarian Policy Solskyi, and Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov, I have decided to abandon this decision. We will not ban the transportation of grain in gondola cars at this stage," he said, adding that the company must do everything in the country's interest "even if this makes it necessary to abandon one’s own decision that is undeniably correct."
"I believe that this decision is right. Grain should be transported in grain hoppers. It is necessary to abide by the transportation procedure. However, today, we must think not only about the company's interests but also about the effect of our decisions on the country's economy during the war," Kamyshin said.
A day earlier, the management of Ukrzaliznytsia informed market participants it intended to prohibit the transportation of grain in private gondola cars from 1 March but allow their transportation in Ukrzaliznytsia’s gondola cars.
Grain transport market participants did not support the Ukrzaliznytsia management’s announcement.
