Shipping activity in the Black Sea falls by 37%

The number of cargo vessels operating in the Black Sea declined by 37% year-on-year in October 2026 to 1,370 ships. According to the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine, shipping activity in the region continues to decrease amid growing security risks, attacks on port infrastructure and threats to commercial vessels.

The downward trend has persisted throughout most of 2026. In March, 2,091 cargo vessels were operating in the Black Sea, but their number subsequently declined each month. As a result, shipping activity fell by approximately 34.5%, or 721 vessels, between March and October. The decline accelerated particularly sharply from August, when the monthly decrease exceeded 10%.

One of the main reasons for the deterioration is Russian attacks, which, according to the association, have extended into the exclusive economic zones of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. Another contributing factor has been the intensification of Ukrainian strikes against Russian port infrastructure and vessels linked to Russia. These developments are increasing risks for commercial shipping and complicating maritime transport planning across the Black Sea region.

The decline in cargo vessel activity poses additional challenges for regional logistics, particularly the transportation of grain, oilseeds, edible oils and other export cargoes. Heightened security risks may affect vessel availability, insurance costs, freight rates and shipping companies’ route choices.

Tags: Black Sea region, shipping