The Institute for Transport Economics and Development (IEDT) notes that the coal industry is experiencing a global decline in demand, primarily driven by the gradual energy transition and the course taken by major importing countries toward self-sufficiency.

“For example, China has committed to a gradual phaseout of coal use from 2026 to 2030 and views coal-based power generation as a reserve source for clean electricity production in the future. India plans a significant increase in domestic coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030. Under such a scenario, growth in coal exports appears unlikely,” IEDT experts say.

According to IEDT, the growth of container transportation on the Russian Railways (RZD) network is supported by the expansion of terminal and logistics centre capacities, the use of new rolling stock types, improved transport technologies, and the provision of integrated logistics services. The containerisation rate is expected to increase by 2030, including through wider use of innovative containers and the shift of cargo flows from other types of rolling stock.

The strongest growth is expected in the “other” cargo group (chemicals, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, metalware, food products, etc.), as well as grain and timber cargoes. Foreign trade transportation will be the key driver of growth, IEDT analysts believe.

The full article is available on Kommersant website.