Business is reorienting oil exports to western borders due to risks of attacks on ports

Ukrainian exporters are reorienting the transportation of oil and meal from seaports to western border crossings amid the risks of Russian attacks on port infrastructure.

This was reported by Valery Tkachev, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Technology and Commercial Work of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, Elevarotist writes.

In April 2026, export transportation of vegetable oil by rail decreased by 9.6% compared to March – to 143.7 thousand tons. Of the total volume, only 60.5 thousand tons of oil were transported towards seaports, while 83.2 thousand tons – through western border crossings. Thus, the share of the western direction reached 58%.

According to Tkachev, the change in logistics is associated with increased risks for port infrastructure due to Russian attacks on oil storage sites.

“You have seen the latest events, the enemy is attacking vegetable oil storage facilities in seaports. This is both at the Black Sea port, and at Odessa, and at other places. That is, these are additional risks, so the business has reoriented and more oil is being transported to the western border crossings,” he said.

Ukrzaliznytsia notes that the reorientation of cargo has been ongoing since the end of 2025.

A similar trend is observed in the meal segment. In April, 239.3 thousand tons of this product were transported by rail – 15.2% less than in March. The main volume also went through the western crossings: 200.1 thousand tons, or 84% of total exports. Only 39.1 thousand tons were transported towards the seaports.

Earlier, USM said that a record harvest of oilseeds is predicted in the Black Sea-Danube region.