Growth of Maritime Cargo Handling in Ukraine in 2025

Despite the increase in shelling and logistical challenges, Ukrainian maritime ports managed to handle 6 million tons of cargo in April 2025. 

This information was provided by Ukrinform, citing the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).

What cargo was processed through Ukrainian ports in April 2024?

The majority of the cargo consisted of grains and ore, as is traditionally the case.

According to the data provided, in April, 3.1 million tons of grain and 1 million tons of ore were processed through the ports. The Ukrainian maritime corridor facilitated the transportation of 5.3 million tons of cargo, of which 2.9 million tons were agricultural products.

According to USPA, the highest volumes of cargo handling were recorded in the ports of Greater Odesa. Specifically, the “Pivdennyi” port handled 2.4 million tons, the Chornomorsk port - 1.8 million tons, and the Odesa port - 1 million tons. The Danube region ports (Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Danube) collectively handled about 800 thousand tons.

V'yacheslav Kharkavenko, Deputy Head of USPA, noted that despite numerous serious challenges, Ukrainian maritime ports are maintaining operational resilience even in the face of extremely high risks.

Among these challenges, he mentioned the reduction of sown areas due to the full-scale war, mining, and the temporary occupation of parts of the territory, as well as the decline in industry, particularly in metallurgy, where up to 80% of production was exported before the war.

“Additionally, the spring period is traditionally characterized by a decrease in agricultural exports - volumes typically start to rise mid-summer. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian ports continue to fulfill their functions and remain a crucial support for the country's economy,” Kharkavenko concluded.

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