Ukraine returns railway transportation tariffs to previous levels

The Ukrainian government has prolonged the moratorium on the increase of railway transportation tariffs for mining and metallurgical companies until June 1, 2009.
 
According to Ukraine's minister of transport and communications Iosif Vinsky, the extension of railway transportation tariffs for mining and metallurgical companies will mean the return of the tariffs to the level of September 2008.
 
The moratorium was declared in October 2008 and expired on April 1, 2009, leading to an increase of 17.7 percent in railway transportation tariffs for mining and metallurgical companies.
 
In January-March 2009, Ukraine registered a 38.5 percent reduction in railway transportation of steel products, a 30 percent decrease in railway transportation of iron and manganese ore, a 39.8 percent drop for ferrous scrap, and a decrease of 30.7 percent for coke, all compared to the 2008 data.