The volume of cargo transportation in Ukraine in January-September 2024 increased by 11.7% compared to the same period in 2023 to 263.5 million tons, according to the State Statistics Service (Ukrstat).
According to the agency, cargo turnover for the first 9 months of this year increased by 15.7% to 138.17 billion ton-km.
According to the State Statistics Service, the number of passengers transported in January-September this year increased by 9% to 1.62 billion people, while passenger turnover increased by 12.7% to 32.51 billion passenger-km.
It is noted that the growth dynamics of these indicators is slowing down. In particular, in the first quarter, cargo turnover grew by 24%, while in the first half of the year it grew by 18.6%, and passenger turnover by 23.9% and 17.2%, respectively.
The data exclude the territories temporarily occupied by Russia and parts of the territories where military operations have been (are) ongoing.
Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) transported a record number of passengers in 2024 and also reached high levels of cargo transportation, said Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Community and Territorial Development.
“Today we can state that 2024 is becoming a record year for Ukrzaliznytsia both in terms of cargo transportation, which is more than 148 million tons per year, and passenger transportation. For the second year in a row, Ukrzaliznytsia has been transporting more than 20 million people at its facilities,” Kuleba said on Sunday at the ceremony of the first departure of the Kyiv-Budapest train.
The deputy prime minister emphasized that the volume of UZ passenger traffic is significantly higher than before the full-scale invasion, and passenger traffic to the EU countries is hundreds of times higher than before 2022.
According to Kuleba, there are large-scale plans to expand the railway network with European countries in 2025.
“For 2025, we really have a lot of plans to expand the network with European countries, our neighbors. There are plans for Romania, an increase in traffic to Poland,” Kuleba said.
He noted that demand for international rail transportation in Ukraine exceeds supply.
“So, of course, we have a lot of work to do. We will do everything to reduce the load,” the Vice Prime Minister said.
Oleh Holovashchenko, head of the Passenger Company branch, said that the Kyiv-Budapest train, which made its first run on Sunday, will continue to run on a regular basis and can become a worthy alternative to the Kyiv-Warsaw train.
“This train will help relieve traffic with European countries and make it more convenient,” he said.
He specified that in the two days since the opening of ticket sales for the Kyiv-Budapest train, more than 2,000 tickets have been sold, and the load on the first flight exceeded 60%. UZ expects it to grow rapidly.
Earlier it was reported that UZ launches Kyiv-Budapest and Rava-Ruska-Warsaw trains from December 15 together with the Polish state operator PKP Intercity. In addition, UZ together with ZSSK will launch a connecting route to Bratislava.
In January-November 2024, 73.4 million tons of cargo were exported through the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Timur Tkachenko said on Facebook on Wednesday.
According to him, the volume of exports since the start of the sea corridor in September 2023 has reached 85 million tons.
In addition, the total volume of cargo handled in Ukrainian ports in January-November reached 91.1 million tons, compared to 52.8 million tons in the same period in 2023.
Grain crops remain the leaders in terms of transshipment volumes: 56.1 million tons were handled in 11 months, which is significantly higher than last year’s figure of 39.4 million tons. The volume of ore cargo increased to 16.7 million tons, up from 3.2 million tons in 2023.
In November, Ukraine’s seaports handled 7.6 million tons of cargo, up from 6.7 million tons last year.
“Ukrainian seaports remain key points in international logistics, proving their ability to adapt to challenges and ensure stability even in the most difficult conditions,” Tkachenko wrote, noting that thanks to well-coordinated work, international support and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine continues to maintain its position in the global transportation market and confirm its status as a reliable partner.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that the cargo turnover of Ukrainian ports from January 1 to November 17, 2024 increased to 86.8 million tons, of which 53.5 million tons were grain cargo.
In addition, it was reported that during the first year of operation of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, 64.4 million tons of cargo were transported, including 43.5 million tons of grain. During this period, 2379 vessels used the corridor, exporting products to 46 countries.
In January-October 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) increased its cargo transportation by 21.9% compared to the same period in 2023, to 146.94 million tons.
“In January-October 2024, Ukrainian rail transport transported 146.94 million tons, which is 26.4 million tons, or 21.9%, more than in the same period last year. In October, the volume of cargo transportation amounted to 15.06 million tons, which is 8.8% more than in September,” UZ said in an analytical note prepared for the meeting of the Exporters’ Office on Thursday.
The volume of transportation in export traffic for 10 months of 2024 increased by 64.2% to 71.07 million tons. At the same time, exports accounted for 48% of total transportation, while in the same period in 2023 it was 36%.
In the first 10 months of the year, grain cargo took the first place in total exports – 28.85 million tons (40.6%). Transportation volumes of iron and manganese ore amounted to 27.67 million tons (38.9%), ferrous metals – 4.33 million tons (6.1%), and construction materials – 3.49 million tons (4.9%).
“In the current environment, the steel and agricultural sectors retain the status of the mainstay of Ukrainian exports. The sea routes remain the main channel for increasing the supply of Ukrainian goods to foreign markets,” UZ analytical note says.
It is noted that the dynamics of cargo transportation volumes is affected by massive shelling and the state of the energy sector.
Earlier it was reported that since the beginning of the year, UZ has increased the volume of cargo transportation by almost a quarter, reducing it in September compared to August.
Ukraine’s ports handled 8 million tons of cargo in October, of which 6.8 million tons, or 85%, were handled through the ‘sea corridor’, State Enterprise (SE) Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported on Tuesday.
The port’s performance in October is 11.5% higher than in September, when 7.178 million tons of cargo were handled, said Timur Tkachenko, Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure.
More than half of the cargo handled by ports in October was agricultural. They accounted for 5 million tons, which is almost 3.3 times more than in the same period last year, the USPA said.
Grain cargo accounted for more than half of the volume of cargo handled through the sea corridor in October – 4.5 million tons out of 6.8 million tons. The volume of ore cargo transshipment reached 1.4 million tons, which is almost twice as much as in October 2023.
Earlier it was reported that in January-October 2024, cargo handling increased by 78.1% compared to the same period in 2023 – up to 82.1 million tons from 46.1 million tons.
Since the beginning of the year, the cargo turnover of Ukrainian ports has increased to 80.07 million tons, of which more than half (49.5 million tons) was grain, said Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Timur Tkachenko.
“Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine’s ports have handled 80.077 million tons of cargo, of which 49.508 million tons were grain,” Tkachenko wrote in a telegram on Friday.
According to him, the figures once again prove that Ukraine is a guarantor of global food security. “Even despite constant air raids, shelling and threats, our ports continue to operate normally, ensuring the stable operation of the Ukrainian sea corridor.
Earlier it was reported that in January-September 2024, Ukrainian ports increased cargo transshipment by 1.8 times to 74 million tons.
It was also reported that the Cabinet of Ministers would allocate additional funds for the restoration of Odesa ports.
