EU allocates 126 million euros to Romanian ports to improve exports from Ukraine

As part of the Solidarity Roads program, the European Commission is allocating 126 million euros to Romania to invest in ports that have faced an increase in Ukrainian exports.

This is stated in the message of the European Commission.

It is noted that logistics companies operating in Romanian ports will receive grants of up to EUR 10 million.

These are the ports located on the eastern border of the EU (Constanta, Galati, Giurgiu), on the Danube-Black Sea Canal (Poarta Alba, Mida and Navodari) and the Sulin Canal or “satellite ports” of Constanta (Mida and Mangalia).

The funding is provided at the request of Romania, which has informed the European Commission of its plans to support companies in Romanian ports to invest in additional loading and unloading or storage capacity to handle goods from Ukraine.

The operators will receive the assistance they need to cover the additional costs of equipment and warehousing to handle cargoes that deviate from their normal trade routes.

The scheme with a budget of EUR 126 million will run until December 31, 2024.

“These funds will allow Romania to reduce bottlenecks caused by the sudden increase in the number of goods arriving at ports along the Danube and Black Sea. The financing will help port operators to handle and store goods, thus reducing the blockade caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. This will contribute to the EU’s Solidarity Action Plan without disturbing excessive competition in the single market,” said Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Vice President for Competition Policy.

Ukraine increases grain exports through Romanian ports

Thanks to a sharp increase in supplies from Ukraine and ongoing infrastructure projects, Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta recorded its highest grain exports in 2023.

According to the report, the port shipped 36 million metric tons of grain last year, up 50% year-on-year. Ukrainian grain accounted for about 40% of the total, or 14 million tons, compared to 13.0 million at the end of November and 8.6 million for the whole of 2022.

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters, and Constanta has become Kyiv’s largest alternative export route since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Romania is seeking to increase its transit capacity for Ukrainian grain to 4 million tons per month and is currently modernizing rail and road infrastructure in and around the port.

Ukraine and Romania also agreed to launch an additional anchorage for Ukrainian agricultural products in the port of Constanta.

Up to 60% of Ukrainian grain is exported through Romania.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, Romania, EU, Constanta