Ukraine reduced exports by road by 26.7% m/m in November

Exports by road due to the blockade on the Ukrainian-Polish border fell by 26.7% in November 2023 compared to October – to 783 thousand tons, while imports decreased by 23.5% m/m – to 967 thousand tons. Such operational data of the State Customs Service was released by the First Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko.

In November 2023, exports by sea and river transport increased by 70.7% m/m – up to 5.905 million tons, while rail exports decreased by 17.9% compared to October, to 2.535 million tons.

Last month, imports by sea and river transport increased by 8.2% m/m – to 495.2 thousand tons, while rail imports increased by 10.6% m/m – to 561.3 thousand tons.

In general, in November 2023, exports from Ukraine increased by 21.2% compared to October – to 9.23 million tons, while imports decreased by 6.4% m/m – to 2.17 million tons.

«Only in November, exports reached 9.2 million tons. Freight transport accounted for 783,000 tons. Of course, the largest volume of our exports passed through the Polish border – 282,000 tons. But before the Polish carriers started a strike at the border, the volumes were almost twice as large – by 39.3%. At some checkpoints, such as Yagodin – Dorogusk, Rava-Ruska – Grebenne, it almost froze, or fell in half,» the First Deputy Prime Minister noted.

According to her, Ukraine is actively working to resolve this situation, and not all of it can be public.

«But we have reason to hope that thanks to this dialogue from both sides, we will be able to resolve the situation. Our diplomatic steps can also be strengthened by exporters who have counterparties in Poland. Our business associations are already doing this, building a dialogue with Polish partners, deepening cooperation, lobbying for the interests of Ukraine,» said Svyridenko.

At the same time, the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development has announced that the Uhryniv-Dolhobyczów checkpoint is opening for empty trucks to cross from Ukraine to Poland. Starting December 4, trucks weighing 7.5 tons or more will be able to pass through.

«The opening of Uhryniv is the first item on the list of measures we are implementing to unblock the border, reduce queues and increase the capacity of the Ukrainian-Polish border. We are working to lift the blockade as soon as possible, taking into account the interests of our market and the state,» emphasized the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction – the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.

From December 4, empty trucks, in particular tanks, can start moving without registering in the electronic queue for crossing the border. The throughput capacity per day will be more than 100 trucks.

As GMK Center reported earlier, business loses €300 per day due to the traffic of one truck on the Polish border, Yulia Klymenko, first deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, reported.