Russian Railways Cargo to China Up 3% in Jan-Apr 2026

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Cargo transportation to China via the Russian Railways network increased by 3% year-on-year in January-April 2026 to 62.7 mln metric tons, the company reported. Container shipments reached 1.168 mln TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), up 5.9%.

"Following the results of January-April 2026, transportation volumes in traffic with China increased by 3% compared to the same period last year, reaching 62.7 mln metric tons," the statement said.

"Shipments to China totaled 54.8 mln metric tons of cargo (+2%), including: coal – 33.7 mln metric tons (+0.3%), iron ore – 4.7 mln metric tons (+7.9%), oil cargoes – 4.6 mln metric tons (+19.9%), fertilizers – 2.5 mln metric tons (+18%)," the holding company specified.

Shipments from China to Russia increased by 10.8% to 7.8 mln metric tons of cargo. These included chemicals – 1.6 mln metric tons (+5.4%), industrial goods – 1.2 mln metric tons (+31.5%), non-ferrous ore – 0.8 mln metric tons (+29.1%), as well as automobiles and components – 0.6 mln metric tons (+12.5%).

Transportation through ports in trade with China increased by 6% to 43.9 mln metric tons, while shipments through border crossings amounted to 18.8 mln metric tons (-3.2%).

Russian Railways noted that among land border checkpoints, Zabaikalsk remained the leader, handling 7.8 mln metric tons of cargo in both directions (+4.3%). Container transportation through the border crossing increased by 32% to 197,400 TEU.