Ukrainian ports processed 52.8 million tons of cargo in 11 months

In January-November 2023, Ukrainian seaports increased cargo transshipment by 15.8% compared to the same period in 2022, to 52.8 million tons. This was stated by Yuriy Lytvyn, Head of USPA, at a meeting of the Ministry of Infrastructure with heads of diplomatic missions and the public, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).

Over 11 months, 47.9 million tons of export cargo was handled, and 4.6 million tons of import cargo. Thanks to the operation of the Ukrainian Corridor across the Black Sea, as of November 30, 2023, the ports of Greater Odesa handled 6.4 million tons.

During this period, the ports of the Danube cluster handled 29.4 million tons of cargo, which is 6.97 times more than in January-November 2022. In particular:

• iron ore – 1.7 million tons;
• petroleum products – 1.9 million tons;
• oil – 2.6 million tons;
• grain – 14.1 million tons;
• other cargoes – 9 million tons.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 23 new terminals and 20 new cargo handling points have been opened in the Danube ports. The number of pilots has increased from 14 to 78. Dispatching and operational processes have also been improved, including nighttime vessel handling and vessel lead-in.

At the same time, since mid-July, after Russia withdrew from the grain deal, the enemy has launched a wave of attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports. The Russian shelling damaged or partially destroyed 10 elevators, two pipelines, 34 administrative buildings, 26 oil and fuel warehouses, 93 vehicles, as well as 69.7 thousand square meters of grain storage facilities and 62 thousand tons of relevant products.

As GMK Center reported earlier, a temporary corridor to and from the ports of Greater Odesa was launched in August 2023. In November, 14 vessels exported a total of 620 thousand tons of iron ore and 140 thousand tons of steel products from Odesa and Pivdenny ports.

In October, the export of Ukrainian iron and steel products through the ports of Great Odesa was approximately 507,000 tons of iron ore (four bulkers from Pivdenhoy) and 213,500 tons of steel products (two ships from Odesa).