KTZ held a meeting of its operational grain task force to organize the transport of the new grain harvest, reports the APK Novosti agency.
KTZ reported that meeting participants discussed the readiness of infrastructure and the railcar fleet to handle peak transport volumes. Particular attention was paid to ensuring an even distribution of loading operations throughout the month to prevent railcar congestion and downtime at stations.
Between September 2025 and August 2026, over 15 million tons of grain were transported across the KTZ network—a record volume. Exports totaled 11.8 million tons, with 7.6 million tons shipped to Central Asian countries. Shipments to Afghanistan tripled, reaching one million tons.
In August 2026, approximately 1.2 million tons of grain were transported via the KTZ network, a 35% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports amounted to 895,000 tons, marking a 46% rise, while 262,000 tons were directed to the domestic market. Shipments of milled grain products increased by 18%.
Approximately 15,200 grain hopper cars and 17,100 boxcars are being utilized for grain transport across the network. Provided that requests are submitted on time and unloading proceeds steadily, the existing fleet is sufficient to transport the new harvest.
Grain elevators and owners of private rail sidings have been advised to ensure round-the-clock operations, while shippers are urged to plan volumes in advance and submit transport requests in a timely manner.
"Railcar owners and operators have been advised to offer incentive discounts to exporters for grain loading during the first half of the month. This will allow for a more even distribution of volumes and reduce the strain on railway infrastructure during the final ten-day period of the month," KTZ stated. To ensure the efficient coordination of shipments, the grain task force will continue its operations, involving KTZ divisions and subsidiaries, railcar fleet operators, seaports, grain unions, and exporters.