The cargo import from the Balkans (Turkey, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovenia) to the Russian Federation is stepping up. In the first half of 2013 Turkey, the biggest foreign trade partner in this region, has transported to the Russian Federation more than 2,5 million t of cargoes. It is 14,6% more in comparison with the same period last year.
More than 85% of cargoes are transferred from Turkey to Russia by sea transport. The remaining cargoes are carried mainly by road transport (air and railway transportations comprise small shares of the total volume). In 2013 the volumes of cargo transfer to Russia by sea and road transport have grown proportionally: +17% in comparison with the same period last year.
In 2013 much the same ratio between transportation modes is observed in relation to the import from Bulgaria. However, in comparison with 2012 there is modal split in favor of sea transport.
For the first half of 2013 the total volume of cargo transportations from Bulgaria to Russia has comprised 288,000 t. It is 87% more in comparison with the same period last year. Therefore, in 2013 the import from Bulgaria significantly exceeds the import from Greece (in 2012 the total volume of cargo transportations of these two countries was approximately the same). In the first half of 2013 the import from Greece (151,000 t) has remained unchanged in comparison with the same period last year: 3% increase did not influence the total volume of cargo transportations from the Balkans to Russia.
The cargo import from Romania has decreased from 216,000 t for 6 months of the previous year to 141,000 t for the same period this year. Two-fold decrease is observed in relation to sea transportations; road transportations reduced by 13%. The level of railway transportations has increased.
In the first half of 2013 Serbia has increased the level of transportations to Russia up to 112,000 t (the same period last year this figure comprised 44,000 t). The increase in cargo transfer is observed for all transport means, but approximately 70% of cargoes are transported by road. For the same period Slovenia has transported to Russia 57,000 t (+33%). Road transportations in this region comprise 60% of total cargo transfer.
The main regions where cargoes are transported are Moscow (57%) and Moscow region (9,7%); 9% is transported to St. Petersburg.