Economy

In October 2026, shipping activity in the Black Sea decreased by 37% compared to the same period last year, amid increased attacks on merchant ships and port infrastructure.

Against the background of increasing attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, insurance premiums for war risks for some particularly dangerous voyages reached 20% of the value of the ship’s hull.

Over the past week, shares of Ukrainian agricultural holdings traded on the Warsaw and London Stock Exchanges showed different dynamics.

In January-September 2026, Metinvest Group paid UAH 13 billion in taxes and fees to budgets of all levels in Ukraine. This is 6% less than in the same period last year.

Only 6% of the volume was exported through ports, and this mainly concerns the Danube direction.

At the same time, Lithuania and Latvia entered the Egyptian market for the first time, but their volumes remain negligible.

At the same time, corn exports this season will decrease by 54% compared to the previous one.

The European stock exchange Euronext plans to launch new futures contracts for Black Sea wheat and corn with physical delivery to the Romanian port of Constanta in June 2027.

Intensification of Russian attacks on enterprises and infrastructure, together with the blockade of ports, will lead to a deterioration of Ukraine’s foreign trade balance by $6.6 billion in 2026.

During October, 1 million 595 thousand tons of grain cargo were transported by rail. Of these, 36 thousand tons were transported to the ports of Great Odesa.