From September 15 to September 21, 2026, about 100 railcars with Russian grain accumulated in Liepaja, Latvia, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium restored a berth near Novorossiysk, and the number of lawsuits against Wildberries and Ozon grew noticeably. We transport containers via Novorossiysk and the Far East, so we look at this week through the eyes of an operator: where a route might close, where clearance will speed up, and where a payment risks getting stuck. Ten stories of the week — from new restrictions in Latvia to sanctions risks in settlements with China.
About 100 railcars with Russian grain stranded in Liepaja
About 100 railcars with Russian grain accumulated at the marshalling yard in Liepaja, Latvia, with several more trains spotted on other railway sections. At the same time, transit has not stopped: in August, nearly 159 thousand tons of Russian-origin grain passed through Latvian ports — 56% more than a year earlier. On September 17, the Saeima approved an accelerated revision of railway infrastructure fees for grain dispatched from stations in Russia. The government recommended increasing it by 300%, but the final tariff is yet to be determined by the operator LatRailNet. The Latvian parliament also forwarded a bill to the committee on a complete ban on the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain, though such a ban has not yet been adopted. Details from TKS.RU.
For exporters, this poses a risk of losing one of the alternative routes in the Baltic. While it is too early to say that the corridor is closed, it is already worth recalculating delivery through other ports and comparing it with the Latvian route under the increased infrastructure tariff.
CPC restored the third berth near Novorossiysk after a drone attack
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium commissioned a new single point mooring SPM-2 at the marine terminal near Novorossiysk to replace the facility disabled by a drone attack in November 2025. The first batch of 127 thousand tons of CPC Blend crude oil has already been loaded onto the tanker Aegean Dream. The installation, adjustment, and commissioning of the new SPM were carried out exclusively by Russian specialists for the first time; all components were also manufactured in Russia. Following the launch, CPC again operates three functional single point moorings. Details from InfraNews.
We have an office and a customs broker in Novorossiysk, so the condition of port infrastructure is an operational priority for us. However, the impact of this news on container shipping is indirect: SPM handles crude exports, and its launch does not guarantee shorter queues for container vessels.
FESCO proposed including container cargo and vessels in the strategic list
Polina Senatorova, Director of Compliance and Maritime Law Department at FESCO, proposed including container cargo and vessels in the strategic list so that carriers could receive insurance payouts following attacks. Currently, priority insurance coverage for such risks is provided for the fuel and energy sector, metallurgy, and the military-industrial complex, while container shipping is not included in the list. The catalyst was the loss of the FESCO container ship Yanina in August and the constructive total loss declaration of the Akkon Lines container ship. Details from InfraNews.
For now, this is only a proposal. For cargo moving via the Black Sea, it is advisable to separately request insurance terms from the carrier and verify whether the policy covers war and terrorism risks. Standard freight rates do not guarantee such coverage on their own.
FESCO opened a container terminal in Bataysk near Rostov
FESCO opened a new container terminal in Bataysk: 5 hectares, design capacity of 27 thousand TEU, and over 310 thousand tons of cargo per year. The opening ceremony was attended by Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar, FESCO CEO Petr Ivanov, and Head of the North Caucasus Railway Sergey Zadorin. The terminal is designed to increase the frequency of container trains between the Commercial Port of Vladivostok and the Rostov Region and divert part of the cargo flow outside Rostov-on-Don. Facility specifications are published on the FESCO website.
Previously, FESCO conducted container operations via the Rostov-Zapadny station located in a densely built-up urban area. Therefore, for cargo heading to southern Russia, this news primarily means shifting cargo processing to an owned site in Bataysk rather than opening a completely new destination.
Ruscon launched a seasonal container service along the Northern Sea Route from China
Multimodal operator Ruscon (part of Delo Group) completed its first proprietary voyage via the Northern Sea Route. The container vessel Honfu, with a capacity of approximately 3.7 thousand TEU, delivered cargo from Chinese ports to the group's terminal in St. Petersburg. Transit time via the Northern Sea Route is about 25 days compared to 45 days via the Suez Canal.
The service operates only during the summer-autumn navigation season, so it cannot be relied upon year-round. For shipments from China to St. Petersburg and the Northwest, this is a seasonal option within Ruscon's regular service. Once navigation closes, vessels will resume routing via the Suez Canal.
Russian Railways halved the tariff for transporting metal structures from Kurgan
Russian Railways introduced a reduction factor of 0.5 to current tariffs for domestic transportation of metal structures from the Kurgan station of the South Ural Railway. The discount applies to cargo under UCFT code 371 in owned or leased railcars until the end of 2026. The tariff decision was published in an excerpt from the minutes of the Russian Railways management board.
If you dispatch metal structures from this specific station, the discount can noticeably alter your logistics scheme calculations already this quarter. However, it does not apply to neighboring stations or other cargo types, so it is necessary to first verify the UCFT code, railcar ownership, and departure station.
Automation inspected over 9 million railcars on the East Siberian Railway
Automated commercial inspection systems on the East Siberian Railway have checked 9.1 million units of rolling stock since the beginning of 2026. Nineteen such systems operate at major stations along the line. Cameras and laser equipment generate a 3D model of a passing train to monitor railcar condition and cargo securing. The throughput of a single installation reaches 120 trains per day. Details are reported by RZD-Partner.
Automation helps identify commercial defects before railcars enter public tracks. However, the source does not state how much the system shortens overall transit times, so it is too early to promise accelerated deliveries for specific shipments based on these figures.
FCS accelerates declaration processing in the Far East
According to FCS data, across Russia 92% of goods declarations are registered automatically, and 32% are released without inspector involvement. In the Far East, the performance of the Vladivostok and Far Eastern Electronic Declaration Centers matches national figures: 90–91% of declarations are released within four hours. Another metric relates to vehicles rather than declarations: about 36% of vehicles at the region's checkpoints are cleared based on carrier electronic documents. This was reported by the official Telegram channel of the FCS.
We submit declarations as a customs representative and share liability with our clients before the FCS. Automated clearance genuinely saves time, but only works with accurate data and a complete set of documents. If cargo moves via Pacific ports and border crossings, it is best to verify HS codes, restrictions, and customs payments in advance rather than amend declarations while the shipment is en route.
The number of lawsuits against Wildberries and Ozon rose sharply
From July 15 to September 15, 2026, 599 new claims were filed against RVB LLC, which operates Wildberries — 53.6% more than in the same period last year. Ozon's main legal entity, Internet Solutions LLC, faced over 236 lawsuits: their number more than doubled. A significant portion of the claims was submitted by small e-commerce businesses. Market participants cite lost goods and seller payment delays as the primary causes of disputes. Meanwhile, according to the Digital Platforms Association, less than 1% of active entrepreneurs go to court. More details in the Logirus article.
Against this backdrop, sellers are returning to a proven model: launching their own websites, connecting online cash registers, and selling goods through their own platforms. Storing inventory in proprietary warehouses minimizes business dependence on marketplace regulations and the risk of losing stock on third-party premises. Direct sales also provide greater pricing freedom: in certain categories, marketplace commissions, storage, and fulfillment can combined reach up to 50% of the product value.
VTB added to the US sanctions program on Iran
On September 14, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added VTB to its Iran sanctions program. The bank has already been under US blocking sanctions under the Russia program since February 2022, so technically these are not its first restrictions. What changed is the legal ground: VTB's entry now carries a secondary sanctions risk notice and a connection to the Iran program. The changes were published on the OFAC website, and their potential implications for operations with Chinese banks are analyzed by Logirus.
For companies executing settlements with China via VTB, the primary risk is not an automatic suspension of payments, but additional compliance checks, delays, and rejections from correspondent banks wary of secondary sanctions. Prior to executing routine wire transfers, it is advisable to verify operational chains with your bank and Chinese counterparty, and prepare an alternative payment channel in advance.