Moldovan carriers see 7.6% rise in handled cargo

Over January-August 2008, Moldovan companies engaged in rail, road, air and fluvial transportation handled a total of 11.57 million tonnes, up 7.6 percent on the corresponding period last year, Info-Prim Neo learned from the National Statistics Bureau. The rise was mainly due to increases in the volume of cargo handled by road carriers (+12.2 percent) and rail carriers (6 percent). Meanwhile, fluvial and air transport companies saw decreases of 9.7 percent and 17.5 percent, respectively. Increases were also registered with regards to the distance covered, which rose by 9.6 percent from the similar period of 2007. Road carriers handled 3.32 million tonnes of cargo, by 12.2 percent more than in the corresponding period last year, with Chisinau-based carriers accounting for 61 percent of the total. Of the total rail loadings 53.5 percent represented construction materials and cement, 22.4 percent ferrous metals and scrap metal, and 5.4 percent grain crops and baked foods. The number of transported passengers also increased: by bus and minibus (+9.5%); by air (+10.6%).