Over the past nine months, Ukraine has successfully exported a total of 50 million tonnes of goods via its maritime corridor, demonstrating remarkable resilience and efficiency. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported this milestone on Facebook, noting the significant achievement despite ongoing challenges.
Since the first vessel, Joseph Schulte, navigated the Ukrainian corridor on August 16, 2023, the Ukrainian Black Sea ports have managed to handle this impressive volume of cargo. To date, 1,737 vessels have been processed through these ports.
The Ukrainian Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development Ministry highlighted the coordinated efforts of the Ukrainian government, USPA, international partners, and all port industry workers in maintaining stable agricultural exports by sea. In April 2024 alone, Ukraine exported a record-breaking 6.6 million tonnes of grain and oilseed crops. Of this, approximately 5.2 million tonnes were shipped via the Black Sea ports, surpassing the previous peak of 4.2 million tonnes in October 2022.
Experts note that this achievement underscores Ukraine’s capability to manage exports independently through its maritime corridor in the Black Sea. The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom has emphasized the critical role of Ukrainian shipping in global food security. Ukraine's grain exports are projected to constitute about 9.7% of global grain exports between July 2023 and June 2024.
While agricultural exports heavily rely on the Black Sea ports, accounting for around 78% of the volume, alternative routes remain vital. Ukraine continues to export grain and oilseeds via the Danube River (approximately 15% by volume), rail (around 6% by volume), and road (under 1% by volume).
Additionally, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) anticipates a 15% increase in Ukraine’s grain exports this year, further highlighting the sector's growth potential.
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