Companies@UA: База компаний Украины

Moscow. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Russian Railways (RZD) cut freight haulage 21.7% year-on-year in January-July 2009, but only 13% year-on-year in July alone, the Russian rail monopoly said in a press release.

RZD increased coal freight 7% in July, and posted its first growth, of 0.7%, for base metal ores.

The press release quoted RZD chief Vladimir Yakunin as saying the company had to make sure special-purpose rolling stock was ready for action, particularly given the indications that this year's gross grain harvest will be approximately 85 million tonnes, or higher than the average for the last ten years.

Overall rail freight in Russia fell 22.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2009. A month previously, RZD said freight volumes were so far consistent with the year's forecast for a 19% drop.