logistics

The cold is slowing down the delivery of grain to ports, so traders are raising rates to speed up shipments.

The Suez Canal, which for decades was an important part of the trade route between Asia and Europe, is no longer a sustainable solution. Despite the formal decrease in military activity in the Red Sea, the shipping market has not returned to its pre-crisis logic.

In turn, the market is now experiencing planning uncertainty, with which carriers enter 2026. USM tells what challenges await the industry in 2026 and what Ukrainian logisticians advise to do.

At the start of the year, farmers held back sales, logistics were hampered by weather and shelling, and port disruptions created a grain shortage.

Grain exports through the western border crossings are suitable for oilseeds, but show problems with corn and wheat.

As of the end of 2025, Ukraine’s total elevator capacity increased to 52.67 million tons of simultaneous grain storage.

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.

Russia is trying to block Ukraine’s access to maritime logistics by striking the Odesa region.

Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba held meetings with carriers and exporters during a working trip to the Odesa region.

Due to the Russian attacks on energy and Black Sea ports, grain acceptance and shipment are delayed, which inflates costs and puts pressure on dollar offers. In Ukrainian ports, export demand prices for corn decreased by $3–4/t per week to $202–205/t (or UAH 9,550–9,700/t with delivery to Black Sea ports). This was reported by the…

Due to delayed harvests, logistical disruptions, and Russian shelling, exports are sagging, while carryover stocks are growing.