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Routes have become longer, insurance has become more expensive, and political decisions have turned compliance into a full-fledged operational function – in 2025, these three factors had the strongest impact on freight rates, schedules, and tonnage availability.

USM continues the series of materials about what 2025 was like for global and Ukrainian shipping. This time, we recall the challenges that global carriers faced and what the shipping world will remember about the past year.

Exports of grain and leguminous crops remain critically important for the Ukrainian economy. At the same time, it should be clearly stated: pre-war conditions no longer exist — and we should not expect them to return anytime soon.

Uunsuccessful (fortunately) liquidation of the NABU and the SAPO. The public also actively discussed the “soybean-rapeseed” amendments, the long-term concession of terminals in the port of Chornomorsk, and the risk of removing Medvedchuk’s yacht “Putin’s godfather” from the state control zone.

For the ports of the Odesa region, 2025 was another year of testing. Shelling of infrastructure, changes in tariffs, a partial ban on the import of fertilizers, blackouts and the upcoming concession in the port of Chornomorsk – all this had an impact that shaped the work of the industry throughout the year.

On November 18, in Odesa, the EBA Logistic Talks 2025 brought together leaders of the logistics industry – a closed-sector event organized by the European Business Association (EBA), the Association of International Forwarders of Ukraine (AIFU), and the international law firm Interlegal.

The event, which gathered executives from logistics companies, port representatives, transport operators, HR specialists, and top managers, provided a platform for an open dialogue on the state of the industry, expectations for the coming year, and human capital as the foundation of any business’s stability.

Sea exports in Ukraine are directly related to the agricultural sector, which is increasingly facing numerous challenges every year. War, climate change, logistics problems – all this has an impact on farmers, and subsequently on sea exports and the economy of Ukraine as a whole.

Despite the challenges posed by a full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains a leading maritime power. Every year, thousands of Ukrainian seafarers set sail, sign contracts with foreign companies, and work under various flags. Along with the prospects of professional growth, they face risks such as fraud, labor exploitation, and human trafficking.

The goal is to limit Russia’s oil export revenues, which remain its main source of revenue.

The supply of petroleum products from the Romanian port of Constanta, which is one of the key ones for the Ukrainian market, may be subject to sanctions as early as October 1, 2025.
This is not the first attempt to restrict the activities of the Romanian hub. For the first time, such a decision was discussed in the summer of 2024, but then it was blocked under pressure from Romania and the EU. However, now Ukraine is threatened with the loss of a key partner, a change in logistics routes and, at worst, an increase in fuel prices within the country.
USM understood the situation and spoke with the head of the A-95 Consulting Group, Serhiy Kuyun, as well as other market participants.

One of the most pressing priorities for Ukrainian export logistics in the near future is the diversification of logistics routes. This thesis is associated with numerous military risks and challenges that are often difficult to predict. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has faced the blockade of the ports of Great Odesa, the…