Growth in Russian business: Rhenus launches new groupage freight services

The Rhenus Group has emerged even stronger from the economic crisis in Russia and has been able to continue growing, even in times of crisis. The logistics specialist has been providing seven new groupage freight services to Russian destinations further inland since May this year because of the huge level of demand from customers. The importance of transporting goods to the so-called special economic zones in particular has grown.

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Eastern European specialists from Rhenus and the German/Russian Chamber of Foreign Trade reported on economic developments in Russia at a press conference held at the “transport logistic” trade fair in Munich on 9 May. “Despite the economic slump and EU sanctions, we’ve been able to continue growing by focusing on alternative sectors and further opening up the regions beyond the major cities for our customers,” said Olaf Metzger, Managing Director of Rhenus Freight Logistics Russia, summarising developments. Growth has taken place, for example, particularly in the transportation of spare parts and agricultural equipment – and by providing customs clearance for imports, even in difficult times.

Depending on the volumes involved, the Rhenus Group has been operating new groupage freight services to the Volga region, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Udmurti, Chuvashia, the Urals and Siberia at least once a week. The goods are picked up directly from customers and consolidated at European hubs.

“The Russian government and the Russian regions are trying to attract foreign investors using different mechanisms. One of them involves special economic zones. They offer investors ready infrastructure so that the companies can quickly start production and also obtain a large number of reductions and conveniences. When looking for a production site in Russia, German companies therefore like using special economic zones and industrial parks,” says Matthias Schepp, Chairman of the German/Russian Chamber of Foreign Trade. “We can confirm that. Reliable and transparent groupage freight and part load services will become more important again in times when economic relations become more normal,” says Bernd Stichel, Managing Director of Rhenus REVIVAL, with a sense of reassurance.