Ukraine’s ports handled over 1.2 million tons of steel products in Q1

Total cargo handling exceeded 21 million tons

Ukrainian seaports handled over 1.2 million tons of metal products in the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating the segment’s stable performance even amid ongoing security risks. Overall cargo throughput for this period exceeded 21 million tons, which corresponds to 98% of the target, according to the Ministry of Development.

Metal products remain a key component of cargo traffic, second only in volume to grain, which totaled over 11.6 million tons. Despite the challenging situation caused by regular attacks, logistics chains for steel exports continue to operate without significant disruptions.

“Ukrainian seaports continue to operate under extremely difficult conditions. Behind these results are thousands of people who ensure the ports’ operation every day despite the threat of shelling. As is traditional, grain accounts for the largest share of cargo traffic—11.6 million tons. This once again confirms that Ukraine continues to ensure global food security,” noted Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for the Recovery of Ukraine and Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the year, ports have been shelled on average every five days. As a result, 193 infrastructure facilities and 25 civilian vessels have been damaged. At the same time, the industry has managed to maintain operational resilience and ensure the continuity of transshipment of key cargoes, particularly metal products.

The container segment shows additional momentum: over 63,000 TEU were handled in three months, a 43% increase year-over-year. This indicates a gradual recovery and diversification of logistics.

Since the launch of the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor in September 2023, it has transported over 190 million tons of cargo, of which more than 110 million tons were grain. Meanwhile, the figure for the first quarter of 2025 stood at 20.7 million tons.

As a reminder, Ukraine’s seaports handled 82.2 million tons of cargo in 2025. The planned cargo turnover for last year was 86.2 million tons; the actual result represents over 95% of the plan. The forecast cargo turnover figure (81.77 million tons) was exceeded by 100.5%. More than half (53.7% of the total transshipment volume) last year consisted of agricultural products—44.2 million tons.