Ukrzaliznytsia’s tariff policy must be transparent and correspond to the real cost of transportation. This was stated by UCAB CEO Oleg Khomenko during the discussion «Railway Tariffs and Export: Where is the line between economy and survival».

«Our common task is to bring the tariff in line with the real cost, ensure equal conditions for all cargo, and preserve agricultural transportation as a key source for the Ukrainian economy,» he noted.

Logistics account for up to 15% of the cost of agricultural products, and any tariff increase immediately reduces profitability and tax revenues. In 2022, tariffs increased by 70%, but this did not provide a systemic effect on transportation. Today, we are talking about a new jump – another 30%.

«The real cost price for Ukrzaliznytsia is about 50 kopecks/tonne-kilometer. Farmers already pay 54–55 kopecks, while metallurgy pays 41 kopecks, and off-class cargo pays 36 kopecks. Such an imbalance means that the agricultural sector is effectively subsidizing other industries, although it provides the largest volume of transportation,» emphasized Oleg Khomenko.

He emphasized that preserving agricultural transportation is a strategic task: «If agricultural cargo leaves the railway, everyone loses: Ukrzaliznytsia, its employees, and the state.» He called for an honest dialogue and a responsible tariff policy that would help avoid artificial risks and support the development of the industry.