China has closed two border crossings with Russia for all cargo except container. Damage may amount to 18 billion rubles

The Russian-Chinese border crossings Grodekovo-Suifenhe in Primorye and Zabaikalsk-Manchuria in Transbaikalia stopped accepting all cargo, except for container cargo. About it report “Vedomosti” with reference to Russian Railways.

“The decision was made in Chinese border cities in the framework of strengthening measures for the prevention and control of the epidemiological situation. The timing of the resumption of admission has not been announced, ”the Russian Railways said in a statement.

As the newspaper notes, the new ban will affect a larger number of goods, in particular timber and grain cargo, as well as coal, iron ore and fertilizers. In 2020, 8.7 million tons of cargo were exported through Grodekovo, and 15.4 million tons through Zabaikalsk.

According to Russian Railways, if traffic through these checkpoints stops for a month, “tens of thousands of cars may accumulate there.” The situation will affect all non-containerized cargo and lead to disruptions in supply chains. At the same time, the reorientation to sea transport will increase the already high freight rates. All types of cargo can be moved into containers, except for oversized cargo, but some of them are not expedient to transport in this way from the point of view of profitability.

According to the experts of the publication, if the ban persists in 2022, then the total losses of cargo owners will exceed 18 billion rubles in export earnings.

Recall, on November 29, the State Health Committee of the People’s Republic of China reported about the COVID-19 outbreak in Hulunbuir County. As of November 28, 21 new cases of coronavirus infection were detected in China, of which 20 were in this region. The county authorities have introduced severe restrictive measures for residents.