Russia's economic growth presents both challenges and opportunities for intermodal liner operators, FESCO chief executive Evgeny Ambrosov told delegates at the recent World Shipping Summit in Tianjin.
Mr Ambrosov said that the country's stable economy and rising purchasing power as well as an influx of international business combined to create a growing demand for integrated logistics.
The greatest challenge FESCO's president sees is providing efficient, comprehensive intermodal services as Russia's container traffic grows 18-22 per cent a year in the medium term, powered by the country's rising GDP.
The challenge lies partially in the fact that Russia's container trade is still small and the infrastructure to cope with the increase is lacking, particularly in the area of rail facilities, upon which 80 per cent of national intermodal cargo depends.
Only a limited number of Russian rail freight stations can handle 20-foot containers and fewer still can cope with 40 footers, Mr Ambrosov said.
"There is a severe undersupply of specialised rolling stock. The existing 80-foot container platforms cannot meet required capacity demands," he said.
FESCO sees this challenge as an opportunity and as Russia's only fully integrated intermodal company, it is looking to invest heavily in improving their intermodal connectivity.
As part of its strategy FESCO will look to establish a full-service third-party logistics provider, and operate at least six container terminals at major gateways and to have ocean-going container operations on the Baltic and the Black seas, as well as on the Pacific.
The company also plans to increase its market share of the rail market to 20 per cent.
|
