This is stated in the progress report on implementing a joint project of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States on carrying out accelerated rail and multimodal transportation of agricultural products and food, presented to the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on February 2 in Almaty (Republic of Kazakhstan).
"The largest export growth was in grain legumes (more than 4 times), as well as oil and fat products (by about 20%)," said Andrey Slepnev, Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
At the moment, the main transportation direction under the project is China. Last year, container train shipments were also made along the eastern branch of the North-South international transport corridor towards India and Iran. A pilot delivery to the Republic of Uzbekistan was completed, and shipments to the UAE are under development as well.
"We plan to intensify efforts to lift restrictions on access to promising markets for quality food produced in the Union's territory. We carry out such work on a systematic basis, and one of the results was the resumption of direct railway deliveries of products to the PRC, the access to which was restricted by the Chinese anti-Covid measures," Andrey Slepnev noted. "At this stage, we have managed to restart supplies of meat, poultry, milk and confectionery though Dostyk-Alashankou. The imminent opening of at least three more border checkpoints will enable our countries to significantly increase supplies, which is what we are aiming for".
Following the report review, the Heads of Government of the EAEU countries expressed their support for continuing the project as well as confirmed the priority of expanding the directions and increasing the volume of exported products.
For reference
The initiative to implement the EAEU Member States' joint project for accelerated rail and multimodal transportation "Eurasian Agroexpress" to develop regular mutual deliveries of agricultural products and food, as well as export deliveries in the Asian and European directions was supported by Disposition No. 3 of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council dated February 25, 2022.
The total volume of shipments by Eurasian Agroexpress exceeded 450 ths tons in 2023. The key items in the cargo base were oil and fats, fruit and vegetables, canned goods, grain legumes, as well as chicken and beef meat.
