Discount Is Not Linked to Shipment Volumes
State-owned Calea Ferată din Moldova has amended its international freight tariff policy. A coefficient of 0.5 now applies to the base tariff for qualifying transit movements across Moldova from August 10 through December 31, 2026.
The official CFM tariff table explicitly states that the new conditions are not linked to a minimum cargo volume. This distinguishes the scheme from some of the railway’s other special tariffs, where the discount depends on monthly traffic.
The new coefficient applies to shipments using inventory wagons on the routes specified in the document. The table does not establish the same separate discount for privately owned wagons.
Seven Routes Qualify for All Cargo Types
For the entire range of eligible cargo, half of the base tariff applies on seven routes:
- Basarabeasca–Vălcineț;
- Etulia–Vălcineț;
- Giurgiulești CFR–Vălcineț;
- Ungheni–Vălcineț;
- Novosavițcaia–Etulia;
- Novosavițcaia–Ungheni;
- Novosavițcaia–Basarabeasca.
The routes connect Ukrainian-Moldovan border sections with Moldova’s western and southern rail exits. The Giurgiulești CFR direction provides access to Romania’s rail network and onward connections toward Galați and Constanța.
Grain, Ore and Tank Cargoes Receive Wider Coverage
CFM has established a broader list of discounted routes for selected commodity groups. The 0.5 coefficient covers cereals under NHM codes 1001–1008, oilcake and meal under codes 2304 and 2306, and specified petroleum and chemical products transported in tank wagons.
The list also includes ores under codes 2601 and 7203 and sunflower oil under code 1512 when carried in tank wagons.
For these commodities, the discounted directions connect Vălcineț, Ungheni, Etulia, Basarabeasca, Giurgiulești and Novosavițcaia. This enables trains to cross Moldova toward its western border, Romania and the wider Danube logistics network.
The Entire Journey Will Not Be 50% Cheaper
The 0.5 coefficient applies only to CFM’s base transit charge on the qualifying Moldovan section. It does not automatically reduce the total cost of transporting Ukrainian cargo to Romania’s Port of Constanța by half.
The full logistics rate also includes the Ukrainian rail leg, border and technical procedures, transit across Moldova, onward transport in Romania and terminal or port charges. Costs can also depend on the route, wagon type, transshipment requirements and available border capacity.
Nevertheless, reducing the Moldovan component makes the land corridor more competitive as attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports and civilian shipping increase demand for alternative export routes.
Corridor Capacity Could Reach 4.5 Million Tonnes Annually
Before the new terms were approved, Ukraine had asked Moldova for a 50% discount on grain shipments moving toward Constanța. Reuters reported that Chișinău initially sought guaranteed freight volumes from Kyiv during the negotiations.
The tariff table ultimately published by CFM contains no such volume requirement. Ukrainian shippers are still gathering information about potential consignments and transport schedules.
Former CFM chief Oleg Tofilat estimated that the rail corridor through Moldova could theoretically handle 4.5 million tonnes annually. Ukrainian estimates indicate that a fully operational route could support around 10% of the country’s exports.
The Moldovan government has provided a more cautious near-term target. Ukraine expects to redirect up to 6 million tonnes of cargo through various regional routes during the 2026 agricultural year, and Chișinău aims to attract around 10% of that flow, or approximately 600,000 tonnes. Moldovan authorities expect the additional transit to generate several million euros for CFM even with the reduced tariff.
Moldovan Farmers Seek Protection for Domestic Exports
Moldova’s Agrocereale association has called for the available capacity of every rail section to be assessed before large transit flows are scheduled. It wants protected operating windows for Moldovan agricultural exports, particularly during September and October.
The association has also proposed making discounts conditional on guaranteed minimum volumes under a “ship-or-pay” arrangement. This condition is not part of CFM’s published tariff scheme but could be raised in future negotiations.
The corridor’s effectiveness will depend on more than pricing. Locomotive and wagon availability, the condition of Moldova’s railway infrastructure, border procedures and Romanian terminal capacity will determine how much cargo can actually be transported. The discount creates an economic incentive, but it does not by itself guarantee that the corridor will handle millions of tonnes.
Read also: Moldova and Ukraine Agree to Develop Alternative Freight Routes
