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Sergey Shishkarev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delo Group, gave an up-to-date assessment of the Russian container transportation market at the Transport of Russia International Forum and Exhibition, outlining the investment plans of the holding company, as well as the international prospects of Russian logistics. Sergey Shishkarev pointed out that container transportation keeps demonstrating growth, which makes it a key driver of the development of the transportation industry. By the end of 2024, the volume of railway transportation will amount to 8 million TEU in Russia, 7% more than a year earlier, transshipment in ports will grow by 12% to 5.2-5.3 million TEU. The greatest growth is expected in the North-West, where there is still a surplus of capacity after the departure of global container lines and reorientation of logistics to the East. At the same time, the capacity deficit in the Far East affects the possibility of exporting domestic goods abroad. In these conditions, the development of new and expansion of existing routes, in particular, the North-South and East-West corridors, takes on priority value.
“If we could carry 30-35% more to the East, we could export about $4 billion in non-resource exports,” said Sergei Shishkarev.
In response to the growing needs of Russian foreign trade, Delo Group is systematically increasing the capacity of its terminals. In particular, the reconstruction of the deep-water berth of the Novorossiysk container terminal will increase its throughput capacity to 1 mln TEU per year, making it the largest in Southern Russia. At the grain terminal, the Group plans to build additional silo capacity and a special receiving and shipping yard for exports of Russian sunflower oil and imports of palm oil. By the end of 2024, the Group plans to handle 10 million tons of grain, which will set a new Russian record. The first stage of the Usady dry terminal project is being finalized in the Moscow region and is scheduled for launch in 2025.
Sergey Shishkarev emphasized the significance of entering new logistics markets, noting that he sees prospects in the development of trade and logistics with Asian and African countries, including BRICS members. According to him, it is necessary to enter those regions that are not yet occupied by competitors - Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and others. At the same time, the success of Russian machine engineers in India creates prerequisites for entering the local rail and sea transportation market.
In addition, Sergey Shishkarev touched upon the issue of staff shortage in the transportation industry, emphasizing the need for accelerated training of specialists.
“I am referring not just to the engineering staff, not just to those managers and professionals who manage stevedoring activities at a high level. I know that there is a similar shortage of personnel in railroads and road transport,” said the founder of Delo Group.
To tackle this problem in the long term, demographics issues need to be addressed. The Company is implementing a corporate program to increase the birth rate and support motherhood and childhood. It provides for a set of benefits and their sharp increase with the birth of the third child, in particular, a payment of 1 million rubles. The program is also recommended for implementation by other companies.