Cargo traffic at Volga-Don Shipping Canal down 26.1%, y-o-y, to 8 mln t in 2015 (photo)
In 2015, cargo traffic at Volga-Don Shipping Canal fell by 26.1%, year-on-year, to slightly more than 8 mln t, Oleg Shakhmardanov, Head of Volga-Don Administration, told IAA PortNews at the extended joint meeting of the Public Councils of Azov-Don and Volga-Don Basins held in Rostov-on-Don today, March 25, 2016.
According to him, cargo traffic at Volga-Don Shipping Canal in 2014 totaled 12.5 mln t.
Oleg Shakhmardanov says 80% of cargo still goes from Volga to Don. Despite considerable reduction of crude and oil products transportation, they accounted for 69% of total cargo traffic. Sulphur accounted for 14%, metal scrap – 5.2%, grain – 3.4%, construction aggregates – 2.9%.
The official emphasized three specific features of the past navigation – low water level and, consequently, underloading of transit fleet; favourable weather conditions in the final period of the navigation season and unequal distribution of oversized cargo transportation throughout the navigation period (most operations undertaken in October – November).
