Russia’s container tail traffic declines amid high costs, delivery uncertainty

Container shipments by rail in Russia fell 7.5% in 2025, reaching 5.35 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to Sergey Shishkarev, chairman of logistics group Delo.

Container handling at Russian ports also dropped 5%, to 5.3 million TEUs, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Analysts attribute the decline to high tariffs and uncertainty over delivery schedules, prompting some customers to switch to road transport.

The slowdown comes as Russian Railways (RZD) faces financial pressures. The state-owned operator plans to sell a 49% stake in Federal Freight Company, the country’s second-largest rail operator, as well as the Moscow Towers skyscraper in the Moscow City business district, to cover losses and rising debt.

RZD is exploring ways to improve efficiency and expand shipments of third-class cargo, which typically carries the highest tariffs. However, these shipments are falling faster than first- and second-class cargo.

The company could face further strain from government directives to increase coal exports from Kemerovo Oblast, which may add to losses.

By Aghakazim Guliyev