Economic fallout from Ukraine war could bring business to U.S. railroads: Analysis
A BNSF Railway export grain train crosses the Mojave Desert east of Barstow, Calif., in June 2014. (Chase Gunnoe)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Russia’s self-inflicted economic recession resulting from the Ukraine war will likely undo more than a decade’s worth of economic progress, as other countries end dealings with the Russians. For the U.S., this is an opportunity to increase exports, bolstering its relevance as a swing supplier. Coal and grains in particular are commodities that drive the economies of Russia and Ukraine, and that in the U.S. have close ties to railroads.
Sanctions against Russia have tactically omitted fossil fuels due to European dependence on Russian energy, but Europe is considering how it can wean itself from Russia suppliers. The European Union is proposing a ban on coal imports from Russia that could take effect by August. CNBC reports E.U. member Germany purchased more than 20% of its coal from Russia in…
