Austrian Export Awards: ÖBB RCG scoops a bronze for its grain exports from Ukraine

(Vienna, 20th June 2023) On Monday the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (“Wirtschaftskammer Österreich” in German) handed out its Export Prize for the 29th time in Vienna. Exceptional successes in the export sector were honoured in six categories. RCG won a bronze award in the Transport & Traffic category for its grain shipments from Ukraine. In 2022, ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) transported more than a million tonnes of grain from Ukraine to the EU.

The trophy and certificate were presented by Martin Kocher, Federal Minister of Labour and Digital and Economic Affairs, and Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Clemens Först, CEO of ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG), accepted the award, emphasising: “This year's Export Prize goes to rail transport. As the sustainable logistics backbone of the European economy, we fulfil our responsibility to uphold security of supply, especially in times of crisis, because rail is key to supply and systems.”

Over 1 million tonnes of grain in a year
Ukraine is Europe’s most important exporter of grain. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the associated blockade of the Black Sea ports meant that more than 20 million tonnes of grain were stuck in Ukraine. For this reason, Rail Cargo Group stepped up its agricultural transports from Ukraine from March 2022 onwards. Over a million tonnes of grain (1.3 million) had been successfully transported to Central and Southern Europe by the end of 2022. In fact, RCG has now managed to move more than two million tonnes – more than any other freight railway in Europe. Given that the wagon market in Europe did not have the capacity for these enormous additional quantities, providing the transports within an extremely short period of time represented a huge logistical challenge for the RCG team.

Rail transport is critical for both the system and for supply
RCG has lived up to its responsibility as a leading rail logistics provider in Europe; its grain transports have helped to ensure security of grain supply for the whole world. Rail is crucial to the climate and the system, and therefore plays an indispensable role in logistics – not only in crisis situations.

Rail Cargo Group: the freight transport division of the ÖBB
As a leading rail logistics provider in Europe, we are shaping the industry. 365 days a year – 24 hours a day. Across Europe and beyond into Asia. With our presence in 18 countries worldwide, we connect people, businesses and markets – from the first to the last mile. It’s thanks to our 5,887 logistics professionals from 34 nations that 448,000 trains a year, respectively 1,230 a day, reach their destinations safe and sound. With our efficient end-to-end logistics services, we transport over 88 million net tonnes of freight each year. A modal share of 27.5 % (preliminary value) of the total freight market in Austria makes us top of the league in Europe. Operational management of the Rail Cargo Group lies with Rail Cargo Austria AG.