Ukrainian Danube ports handled over 8.9 million tons of cargo in 2025

The Danube logistics route remains a critically important backup export route

In 2025, more than 8.9 million tons of cargo were transshipped through the Ukrainian Danube ports of Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaysk, which reduced the load on land border crossing points and supported the country’s export capabilities.

This was announced by Andriy Kashuba, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, during a regular QUAD meeting attended by representatives of Ukraine, the European Commission, Romania, and Moldova.

At the same time, increased attacks on Danube ports and nearby cities have led to disruptions in the power grid and significant restrictions on the operation of the port cluster.

According to the government official, the Danube logistics route remains a critically important backup export route for Ukraine, which has already proven its strategic role.

“Large cargo owners are constantly planning to redirect flows to Danube ports, so the common task is to ensure their sustainability, safety, and stable operation even in conditions of constant shelling and disruption of logistics routes,” Kashuba explained.

In the long term, the parties discussed the need to strengthen regional cooperation, include the Ukrainian section of the Danube in the TEN-T network, and take further steps to attract European funding for the restoration and development of port infrastructure in the Danube region.

The meeting was a continuation of a series of working contacts between the Ukrainian side and the EC that took place in January. It discussed the impact of security threats, the complex energy situation, and restrictions on transport access, as well as short- and long-term solutions to ensure logistics stability. Particular attention was paid to the role of Danube ports as a backup export route, the need to strengthen their resilience, and support for the stable operation of the national carrier Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company in the context of systemic attacks by the Russian Federation.

It should be noted that Ukraine’s seaports handled 82.2 million tons of cargo last year. The planned cargo turnover for last year was 86.2 million tons, with the actual result exceeding 95% of the plan. The forecast (81.77 million tons) was exceeded by 100.5%.