In 2012, the Russian Railways’ network carried 2,970,600 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of loaded and empty large containers, 9.4% more than in the previous year. The loaded and empty large containers transported 27.4 million tonnes, up 7.6% on the amount in 2011.
Last year saw the amount of freight transported in loaded and empty large containers (in TEUs) regain its pre-crisis level, while volume increased by 20.6% compared to 2008. The most significant increases occurred in transit shipments, which were up by 54.2%, and exports which saw a rise of 25.7%.
Chemicals and soda (15.3%), cars (13%), paper (11.8%) and hardware (8.2%) accounted for the main share of freight carried in large loaded and empty containers on all routes.
In 2012, 1,978,200 loaded large containers were transported and shipped the following freight. Figures in brackets show the change compared to 2011:

• chemicals and soda – 302,100 TEUs (+13.8%)
• automobiles – 258,100 TEUs (+20.7%)
• paper – 233,500 TEUs (-1.7%)
• hardware – 162,600 TEUs (+11.2%)
• manufactured goods – 135,400 TEUs (+12.8%)
• machines and equipment – 128,300 TEUs (+6.3%)
• timber – 110,700 TEUs (+11.6%)
• foodstuffs – 101,000. TEUs (+0.9%)
• non-ferrous metals – 98,800 TEUs (+4.6%)
• miscellaneous and assembly units – 65,500 TEUs (+25.8%)
• ferrous metals – 80,700 TEUs (+2.9%)

In all, 7,323 container trains ran on all routes in 2012, including 3,340 (45.6% of the total) operated by TransContainer.
(Source: RZD)