90% of foreign trade passes through the ports of Odesa

Positive dynamics of exports through seaports of Great Odesa and Danube ports are expected in March.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Юрій ВаськовYurii Vaskov said this at the Forbes “Made in Ukraine” Exporters’ Summit.

According to him, currently 90% of foreign trade goes through the Danube ports and the sea ports of Great Odesa.

“February became a record for Ukrainian exports – 8 million tons. We expect the same dynamics in March. Today, Danube ports export 1.8-1.9 million tons. This is 50% of their maximum during the war – 4 million tons. The reason is the unblocking of Odesa’s ports,” Yurii Vaskov added.

He also emphasized that since the beginning of the blockade of the western borders, the majority of Ukrainian importers and exporters of individual products with a large added value have faced problems with their transportation, so they are waiting for the resumption of sea container transportation.

“The government is working together with the market on this solution – Ukraine as a state is already ready at the level of infrastructural and organizational preparation. In the next few weeks, we will see a certain result,” the deputy minister emphasizes.

Also, in the spring, another logistical route may become operational – a ferry crossing from the Black Sea to Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. There are already several potential shipowners for rail and road connections.

As previously reported by USM, Ukraine plans to resume sea container transportation within a month. All five container terminals are already ready to handle containers, but will resume operations in stages.

The movement will start with feeder vessels, and container lines will follow them in the absence of incidents.