National railway carrier BDZ reported carrying 21 million tons of cargo and 53 million passengers in the outgoing year. While the number of passengers has remained unchanged from last year, cargo increased tangibly in the second half of 2000. In the last three months alone, BDZ handled 6 million tons. The company's management believes that the growth is due to the operation of local metallurgical plants and producers of the chemical industry. This year BDZ is expected to net a loss of BGN 80 million against BGN 90 last year. The state carrier repaid BGN 26 million to the World Bank and the EBRD and as much as USD 26 million are due for repayment in 2001.