And how will they do it? The cargo flow through river checkpoints on the border with China is going to increase to 2 million tons

The flow of cargo through the Pokrovka and Khabarovsk checkpoints in the Khabarovsk Territory on the border with China is going to increase to 2 million tons per year. The Minister of Economic Development of the region, Viktor Kalashnikov, told TASS about this. True, at the moment the total cargo flow through these two crossings does not reach 100 thousand tons per year.

“In the first half of 2023, over 38 thousand tons of cargo were transported through the Pokrovka and Khabarovsk checkpoints. Products from the timber and agro-industrial complex are exported, machinery, equipment, spare parts are imported, so-called investment imports,” noted Viktor Kalashnikov.

At the same time, he emphasized that in fact, “the potential for cargo transportation in these directions is high.” “We are ready to transport at least 2 million tons of cargo annually,” assured the Minister of Economic Development of the region.

At the same time, at the moment, for example, the Pokrovka checkpoint during the navigation period is capable of receiving only up to 25 trucks per day. In general, even with a large number of capacious ferries, the functioning of mixed checkpoints and, as a consequence, their cargo turnover is very dependent on weather conditions.

Mixed crossings are forced to close completely during ice drift and ice formation, and in winter their capacity is not least determined by the condition of the ice road.

However, Viktor Kalashnikov emphasized that regional authorities, together with their Chinese colleagues, are working to expand cargo flows.

“In particular, this is the study of the issue of increasing the range of export-import cargo imported through checkpoints. The process of equipping with the necessary infrastructure for transportation, including dangerous goods, through the Pokrovka/Zhaohe checkpoint is being established. There is already an agreement on the transportation of phenol-formaldehyde resin for the needs of the TechnoNIKOL Far East enterprise,” explained the Minister of Economic Development of the region.

True, he did not specify what kind of infrastructure changes are planned so that the checkpoints can accept an increased range of goods...