A series of winter strikes on ports in the northwestern Black Sea has had a significant impact on Ukrainian seaborne exports. The greatest impact has been on the infrastructure of the Odessa region—the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny, which remain key hubs for grain and iron ore exports.
📉 According to industry sources, damage to terminals and energy infrastructure has reduced throughput by approximately one-third compared to pre-war levels. Despite this, Ukraine continues to use its own maritime corridor along the coast, which allows it to maintain export operations and the movement of its bulk carrier fleet.
In December, attacks intensified, damaging several civilian vessels engaged in the transportation of agricultural cargo and ore. Regular air raid sirens, which restrict port services and increase vessel handling times, are creating additional pressure.
🚢 According to industry data, total port downtime due to security threats reached several weeks in terms of operational time.
✈️ Grain shipments remain the country’s main source of foreign exchange earnings, but the decline in iron ore exports is particularly noticeable. This was impacted not only by infrastructure disruptions but also by rising logistics costs and risks for shipowners. Market participants note that future shipping trends will depend on the stability of port operations and the level of shipping safety in the region.
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