ArmInfo. Grain Gates has completed its first export shipment of Russian wheat to the Republic of Armenia via a new railway route through the Republic of Azerbaijan. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the company's press service.
According to the source, the first train in over 30 years arrived from Russia via Azerbaijan and Georgia to Armenia, carrying 1,050 tons of wheat. "The first shipment included 1,050 tons of Class 3 wheat, transported in 15 grain railcars operated by the railway operator Rusagrotrans," the company reported.
The train of 15 grain railcars traveled through Azerbaijan and Georgia and crossed the border into Armenia for onward delivery to the Dalarik station of the South Caucasus Railway. The wheat was shipped from the Ulyanovsk region. According to ArmInfo, the recipient is a company owned by prominent Armenian businessman Samvel Aleksanyan.
"Thus, Grain Gates became the first Russian company to resume rail exports of agricultural products to Armenia via Azerbaijan. "There has been no transportation along this route for over 30 years," the company noted. Before the resumption of rail service, deliveries were primarily made by road through the land border crossing and by sea through Georgian ports. Currently, Armenia imports approximately 450,000- 500,000 tons of grain (wheat, barley, and corn) annually, almost all of which comes from Russia. Developing this route opens up additional opportunities for increasing export volumes to the South Caucasus countries, Grain Gates noted.
"We view this route as an important element in diversifying export logistics." "Its use allows us to strengthen the stability of Russian agricultural product supplies to countries in the region," said Ilya Aliyev, CEO of Grain Gates, as quoted by the company's press service.
Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during a visit to Kazakhstan, stated that Baku was ready to allow Kazakh cargo, particularly grain, to enter Armenia. Then, in late October, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk announced that Azerbaijan had expressed its readiness to allow Russian products to enter Armenia.
