Following a new package of Western sanctions against Russia, logistics companies have also taken a hit. Sanctions apply to major mining and metallurgical clients of Russian Railways: Mechel, UMMC, SUEK, OMK, and TMK, and, unexpectedly, to companies of Delo Group — TransContainer and Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company.
The press service of PJSC TransContainer stated: “The company's operations continue as normal — train traffic in international and domestic service runs on schedule, and terminal operations are carried out as established.”
For now, these measures will indeed not affect the operation of TransContainer, which in recent years has been focused on the Asian region, but secondary sanctions must not be overlooked. As we can see, they have already affected China, India, Turkey, and the UAE — over 30 companies from friendly countries have been sanctioned for cooperation with Russia. Now the concern is not merely difficulties in foreign exchange transactions and supplies of specific goods, but the possibility of trade in principle.
If pressure on TransContainer mounts, CIS countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and others may also stop working with it. In that case, the company will have to focus on domestic Russian transportation.
Perhaps in the near future transport companies will have to look for new workarounds and revise their logistics, or perhaps everything will be limited to Delo Group alone.