Ukraine's Ports: Cargo Handling and Ongoing Challenges
Despite an increase in shelling and logistical difficulties, Ukrainian seaports handled 6 million tons of cargo in April 2025.
This information was reported by Ukrinform, citing the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).
What volume of cargo was handled by Ukraine's ports in April 2024?
Traditionally, grains and ore made up the majority of total transshipment volumes.
According to the provided data, 3.1 million tons of grain cargo and 1 million tons of ore passed through Ukrainian ports in April. Within the framework of the Ukrainian maritime corridor, 5.3 million tons of cargo were transported in April, of which 2.9 million tons were agricultural products.
According to USPA, the largest transshipment volumes were recorded in the ports of so-called Greater Odesa. Specifically, in April, the Port of Pivdennyi handled 2.4 million tons, the Chornomorsk Port handled 1.8 million tons, and the Odesa Port processed 1 million tons. The ports of the Danube region (Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Danubivsk) together handled about 800 thousand tons of cargo.
Vyacheslav Kharkavenko, Deputy Head of USPA, noted that despite a series of serious challenges, Ukrainian seaports maintain operational resilience even under extremely high risks.
Among these challenges, he mentioned the reduction of sown areas due to the full-scale war, mining, and temporary occupation of parts of the territory, as well as the decline of industry, particularly in metallurgy, where before the war up to 80% of production was for export.
“Moreover, the spring period is traditionally characterized by a decrease in agricultural exports − volumes begin to increase from mid-summer. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian ports continue to fulfill their functions and remain a crucial support for the country's economy,” Kharkavenko concluded.
Restoration of Ferry Services with Georgia
Ukraine has restored ferry services with Georgia, successfully completing two voyages from the port of Chornomorsk to the Georgian port of Batumi, marking the first such trips since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In 2024, the value of bilateral trade between Ukraine and EU countries reached a record $17 billion.
Ukraine and 28 EU member states established a political and economic association, and in 2022, following the onset of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine applied for EU candidate status.
The EU also reduced import quotas for sugar from Ukraine, prompting producers to shift their focus to markets in Asia and the Middle East.
