Ukrainian ports handled a record 97 mln tons of cargo, more than 60% of which was agricultural products

In 2024, Ukrainian seaports handled a record 97.2 million tons of cargo, exceeding the figure for 2023 by 57%. This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development with reference to the operational data of the State Enterprise “Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority”.

“About 60 million tons of the total volume were agricultural products, confirming the key role of ports in the export of the Ukrainian agricultural sector,” the statement said.

In general, last year’s exports of cargo by sea increased to 88.1 million tons of cargo compared to 56.2 million tons a year earlier.

As reported, in July 2023, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and said it would consider any civilian vessel leaving Ukrainian ports a military target. After that, Russia launched massive attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube, launching “shahed” strikes on grain storage and transshipment facilities.

In turn, in September 2023, Ukraine established its own temporary route from the ports of Greater Odesa. Initially, shipowners were afraid to use the new route, as Russia threatened to treat any ships sailing to Ukraine as potential targets. However, despite Russian shelling, the number of ships using the new corridor is growing.

At the same time, the volume of export cargo transportation from Ukraine through ports on the Danube has fallen sharply since the opening of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor under the protection of the Armed Forces, said Dmytro Moskalenko, acting CEO of Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDSP).

Tags: Black Sea grain corridor, Ukraine, export, agricultural products