Leading business and industry associations of Ukraine opposed the next increase in tariffs for freight rail transportation, which the government is considering. In their opinion, shippers have been compensating for losses in the passenger segment of Ukrzaliznytsia for many years, having overpaid about UAH 200 billion during this time, and the new increase will be unfair and will cause an additional blow to the economy.

The Center for Transport Strategies writes about this.

Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko said that the government is considering the possibility of a gradual increase in freight tariffs: by 30% from August 1, 2026 and by another 15% from January 1, 2027. According to her, this option became a compromise after consultations with business, because initially a one-time increase in tariffs by 45% was discussed..

However, representatives of the business community emphasize: the financial problems of the state carrier cannot continue to be solved at the expense of the cargo segment, because since 2012, Ukrainian business has already overpaid more than UAH 200 billion due to the lack of reform of Ukrzaliznytsia..

" For years, the freight segment played the role of an “endless purse”, through which all the structural problems of the railway monopoly were patched up,” said Alexander Kalenkov, president of the Ukrmetallurgprom OP, in a comment to the publication..

The European Business Association also called on the government to abandon sharp tariff increases.. According to the association, the economic justification for the decision requires additional analysis, and its consequences may be worse than the expected financial effect for Ukrzaliznytsia itself.. The EBA proposes to limit economically justified indexation to 5–10% after open consultations with businesses.

Agrarian associations also adhere to a similar position.. The Ukrainian Club of Agricultural Business predicts that the increase in tariffs will increase the cost of grain transportation by 4–7 dollars per ton, which will ultimately fall on the shoulders of producers due to lower purchase prices.

In addition, some cargo may be transferred to road transport, which will increase the load on the roads..

ICC Ukraine President Vladimir Shchelkunov warned that in conditions of war and a negative trade balance, any decision that worsens the competitiveness of Ukrainian exports creates additional pressure on the foreign exchange market. According to his assessment, even taking into account the financial needs of Ukrzaliznytsia, an increase of no more than 15% seems economically justified.. Earlier, the State Enterprise "