Transportation to Poland has turned corn – Kommersant

Polish carriers blocked the border crossing with Belarus – Kukuryki – Kozlovichi, which was previously closed to all trucks except European ones. They are outraged that Belarusian carriers, having re-registered in Poland, successfully compete with local ones. Polish transport workers have no less complaints about Ukraine: the system of permits for entry into the EU has been canceled for it, which has sharply reduced the competitiveness of Polish enterprises. For the delivery of Russian cargo, market participants note, the border crossing continues to be used, but there are alternatives, albeit more expensive and long, – the Baltic and Finnish points.

Since May 9, Polish carriers have been blocking the checkpoint for trucks on the border with Belarus Kukuryki-Kozlovichi. This was reported by the Polish media. In particular, Rzeczpospolita explains, “Polish carriers from Lukovo, with the support of local companies, are protesting against the seizure of the transportation market to the east by Belarusian and Russian companies.” They demand a ban on the entry of semi-trailers with Belarusian and Russian registration into Poland, the suspension of the work of Belarusian and Russian companies under Polish cover, the publication reports, specifying that the drivers have agreed on the action with local authorities until June 9.

About 100 semi-trailer drivers took part in the action, according to BNN.

Industry participants, according to BNN, are expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s inaction regarding the “growing market power of companies from Belarus and Ukraine.” “They also demand that measures be taken against discrimination against Polish drivers, which is regularly observed on the territory of Ukraine, including through the unfair collection of high fines,” the publication adds.

From May 4, reports Rzeczpospolita, the protesters are also blocking the largest border crossing Dorohusk-Yagodyn with Ukraine, letting five cars pass per hour. They demand the return of the system of permits for Ukrainian companies to enter the EU, which were previously canceled, which, according to the Polish side, brought down tariffs and led to the loss of competitiveness of Polish carriers. The protest could last until June 4th.

In recent years, Poland itself has been systematically closing cargo border crossings on the border with Belarus. In November 2021, traffic was blocked through the Bruzgi-Kuznitsa border crossing.

In early February 2023, the penultimate Berestovitsa-Bobrovniki checkpoint accessible to trucks was closed (see “Kommersant” dated February 11), and from February 21, only trucks registered in the EU or the European Free Trade Association were allowed to pass through the Kukuryki-Kozlovichi checkpoint (see “Kommersant” dated February 21).

The head of Optimalog, Georgy Vlastopulo, says that although since the end of February the passage through the Kukuryki-Kozlovichi border crossing has been prohibited for all trucks except European ones, Belarusian carriers have found a way out: they have re-registered companies in Poland and freely cross the border in this place. This angers Polish carriers, who are closely monitoring this process. At the same time, says Mr. Vlastopulo, Polish carriers block not only re-registered Belarusians, but also carriers from Lithuania, Latvia and other countries. According to the State Border Committee of Belarus, the protesters let through one heavy truck per hour, and transport with animals and perishable goods without delay. The throughput of the checkpoint is 1.2 thousand trucks per day.

Julia Sula, head of the partner network development of the VIG Trans car assembly service, says that this border crossing is still used for the transportation of goods bound for Russia. “Of course, there are alternative routes from Europe,” she says. “These are the Baltic countries, Finland. When using these routes, the cost of delivering goods will only increase, as well as the time.” “The Kukuryki-Kozlovichi border crossing was actively used by carriers and often helped to save time compared to Lithuanian crossings,” says Yulia Shlenskaya, president of the KBT customs and logistics broker. “Now it will be the other way around. Due to the strike of carriers, cars will go to Belarus through Lithuanian border crossings, depending on the transportation route, there will be some overrun and long queues at other checkpoints.” How much the situation will affect rates and delivery times, time will tell, she says. As Julia Sula believes, there is a possibility of a complete closure of the cargo road connection between Poland and Belarus, however, “in this case, it is the Polish carriers who will suffer the most.”

Natalya Skorlygina