Russian Vehicle Market Drives Infrastructure Growth

The expansion of the Russian vehicle market over the last few years has been one of the automotive industry's most compelling success stories, with sales of new vehicles predicted to top the two million mark in 2009. In order to keep pace with the requirements of the automotive industry the country's leading specialist automotive logistics organisation, Russian Transport Lines (RTL), has expanded operations at its flagship St Petersburg terminal.

London, UK - The expansion of the Russian vehicle market over the last few years has been one of the automotive industry's most compelling success stories, with sales of new vehicles predicted to top the two million mark in 2009. In order to keep pace with the requirements of the automotive industry the country's leading specialist automotive logistics organisation, Russian Transport Lines (RTL), has expanded operations at its flagship St Petersburg terminal.

The company, which last month processed its landmark 100,000th vehicle through the terminal, has signed a co-operative agreement with the Sea Port of Saint Petersburg OJSC to service additional ro-ro ferries. The first delivery under the new contract has already taken place, with a shared load of Nissan, Peugeot and Citroen automobiles docking at the terminal on 6 May.

RTL has operated out of St Petersburg since December 2006, with two berths in the Sea Fishery area of the port and joint control of the port's secondary Onega terminal in conjunction with Oslo Marine Group. The recent expansion sees the company increase its footprint in the region to 14.5 hectares of docking and storage space with a total of four berths, including capacity for deep sea vessels. More than 250,000 vehicles are expected to be shipped through RTL's facilities at St Petersburg in 2008 alone.

RTL specialises in innovative logistics solutions for carmakers, including full customs clearance, stevedoring and vehicle inspection. The business holds existing contracts with OEMs such as Nissan and Renault, as well as third party contracts with Peugeot and Citroen via French logistics operator GEFCO.

As the only organisation in the Russian marketplace currently providing a total sea service for finished vehicles via St Petersburg, RTL offers a range of services including customs clearance, vehicle processing, storage and onward distribution to dealers.

Elena Zhadanova, marketing & PR director, Russian Transport Lines, said that RTL's growth underlined the strength of its offering: "We have expanded the number of deliveries via St Petersburg consistently since we opened the terminal in September 2006. We are also in the middle of the development of our new Novaya Gavan terminal at the port of Ust-Luga, near Saint-Petersburg, which will boast three berths and a warehousing capacity of 700,000 m2 when it is completed in 2011. The first phase of the development will be launched later this year with one berth and an initial 60,000 m2 of capacity.

"RTL is at the forefront of automotive logistics within the Russian marketplace, pioneering the provision of specialist finished vehicle solutions to manufacturers in Russia and further afield. Our position as the site owner of the St Petersburg main terminal has enabled us to provide our customer base with dedicated berthing facilities, reduced turnaround times and lower distribution costs."