Ukrainian sea corridor handled 64.4 million tons of cargo in 12 months

During the 12 months of operation of the Ukrainian sea corridor (since August 2023), which operates exclusively with the assistance of the Joint Defense Forces, 64.4 million tons of cargo were transported. This was reported by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).

The first blocked vessel, the JOSEPH SHULTE, sailed through the temporary corridor established by the Ukrainian Navy for merchant ships from the port of Odesa on August 16, 2023. Already on September 16, the first civilian vessels AROYAT and RESILIENT AFRICA used the temporary corridor to head to the ports of Greater Odesa.

Since then, 2,379 thousand vessels have sailed through the corridor, exporting Ukrainian products to 46 countries. Agricultural products account for the largest share of shipments – 43.5 million tons. Another 20.9 million tons were other cargoes, including iron and steel. Despite the enemy’s insidious constant shelling of the port infrastructure of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny, the corridor has continued to operate.

“The Ukrainian corridor is not just a sea route, it is an artery of our economic resilience and a symbol of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit. Each ship that passes through this corridor carries not only cargo, but also hope and confidence in our victory,” said Yuriy Lytvyn, USPA Chairman.

The temporary sea route was organized after the Russian Federation began blocking ships passing through the then “grain corridor”. At the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the grain corridor was organized with the support of the UN and Turkey to ensure global food security. But at the time, Russia was one of the parties to the agreement. After systematic violations by the aggressor country and blocking of ships, it was decided to organize an alternative route, called the Ukrainian Corridor. Unlike the grain corridor, not only agricultural products can be transported via the Ukrainian Sea Route. Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are the only guarantor of shipping safety in Ukraine.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2023, Ukrainian ports increased cargo transshipment by 5% y/y – to 62 million tons, with iron ore transshipment accounting for 5.9% of the total cargo turnover, 1.9 million tons. This can be considered the beginning of the industry’s recovery after the difficult year of 2022, when port cargo turnover fell by 2.6 times compared to pre-war 2021.