In 2023, Ukraine’s ports handled 62 million tons, including 56.3 million tons for export, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reported on Facebook on Wednesday.
According to the administration, imports amounted to 5.3 million tons. At the same time, the Ukrainian sea corridor has already exported 18 million tons of cargo to 32 countries, 12.7 million tons of which are agricultural products.
“By the end of 2023, about 62 million tons of cargo were transshipped by Ukrainian ports in wartime. Among the leaders in terms of cargo nomenclature are grains – 45.5 million tons and liquid bulk – 6.3 million tons. An undoubted achievement of 2023 was the launch of the temporary sea corridor announced by the Ukrainian Navy, which made it possible to unblock the ports of Greater Odesa. On August 16, 2023, the first vessel used the temporary corridor. According to the results of 2023, 400 vessels exported 12.8 million tons of cargo,” the statement said.
Last year, the Danube ports transshipped 32 million tons of cargo, which exceeds the record figures of 2022, the USPA said in a statement.
The cargo turnover of the port of Izmail more than doubled and reached 20.2 million tons (in 2022 – 8.8 million tons). The cargo turnover of the port of Reni reached 10 million tons (6.8 million tons), and that of the port of Ust-Dunaisk – 1.7 million tons (785 thousand tons).
The cargo turnover of the port of Odesa also increased and reached 8.41 million tons (7.69 million tons in 2022), while the cargo turnover of the port of Pivdennyi decreased to 10.08 million tons (15.28 million tons), and the port of Chornomorsk – 11.41 million tons (11.76 million tons).
“I am very grateful to the business, the team of the Ministry of Development (Communities, Infrastructure Territories) and the employees of USPA for effective cooperation, which has led to a number of technical and technological measures: 23 transshipment points have been launched and 15 investment projects are being implemented, which all helped to achieve such record-breaking results. Despite the fact that a lot has already been done, in 2024 we will continue to work together to further increase cargo turnover and improve the work of the Danube cluster ports,” Yuriy Lytvyn, Head of USPA, was quoted as saying in the statement.
Earlier it was reported that the new Ukrainian sea corridor created by the Ukrainian Navy in August 2023 ensured the export of almost 15 million tons of products, including 10 million tons of agricultural products.
In 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC transported 30.58 million tons of grain cargo, up 5.9%, or 1.708 million tons, from a year earlier, said Valery Tkachev, deputy director of the commercial work department of UZ, at a meeting with agricultural market participants on Thursday.
According to him, 22.729 mln tons of grain crops were transported for export by rail, which is 178 thsd tonnes more than in 2022. Of these, 14.324 mln tonnes (-4.9%) were shipped to the ports, and 8 mln 405 thsd tonnes (+12.2%) – to the western border crossings.
“Before the embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain by neighboring countries was imposed in April, 900 thsd tonnes to 1 mln tonnes of grain were transported by rail per month. After the ban was imposed, the volume was almost halved. The work of ports in 2023 was significantly affected by the uncertainty of the “grain corridor”, Tkachev stated.
As reported, Ukrzaliznytsia transported 63 million tons of cargo for export in 2023.
In November 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC transported a record 14.13 million tons of cargo, which is 33.8% more than the average monthly volume of traffic during the year, said Valery Tkachev, Deputy Director of the Commercial Department of UZ, at a meeting with agricultural exporters on Thursday.
According to his information, 6.08 million tons were transported in the export direction in November, which is 24.7% more than a month earlier. This is also the highest figure in 2023.
“The main growth was due to the partial resumption of cargo shipment from the ports of Odesa,” explained Tkachev.
It is specified that in the structure of export transportation in November 2023, the first place was taken by grain cargo – 2.43 million tons (39.9%), the second place was taken by iron and manganese ore – 2.32 million tons (38.1%), and the third place was taken by ferrous metals – 0.41 million tons (6.7%).
In addition, in January-November 2023, the volume of grain cargo transported by UZ amounted to 19.989 million tons, which is 150.6 thousand tons, or 0.8%, more than in the same period of 2022. In November, the company exported 2.43 mln tonnes of grain cargo, up 40.4% (700 thsd tonnes) compared to the previous month. The structure of November cargo transportation of agricultural products was dominated by corn – 1,406.0 thsd tonnes (57.8%), wheat – 514.0 thsd tonnes (21.1%), and industrial crops – 442.5 thsd tonnes (18.2%).
At the same time, in November, the transportation of grain cargoes to the ports amounted to 1 713.4 thsd tonnes, or 70.5%, which is 1.7 times more than in October 2023.
“We had some suspensions due to bad weather at the end of November. Unfortunately, due to the aggressor’s strikes, we still have such indicators. But thanks to the operation of the temporary (sea grain – IF-U) corridor, we see good dynamics of grain cargo transportation,” stated Tkachev.
He noted that the average daily load in November amounted to 91 thousand tons of cargo, which is 20% higher than in October.
During the first week of December, UZ handled 429.1 thousand tons, of which 18.4% was grain cargo. The average daily load amounted to 79.2 thousand tons. Tkachev explained the decline in this figure compared to November by the weekend, during which elevators were closed.
During this period, 349.58 thousand tons of cargo were transported to seaports and 113.87 thousand tons were transported by land.
“For every 1 ton of cargo overloaded and transported in the direction of the western crossings, there are 3 tons of cargo transported in the direction of the ports, i.e. a ratio of 1:3. This is the usual proportion in the best periods of Ukrzaliznytsia’s operation, which remains the same,” said the UZ representative.
In December 2023, exports of oilcake through border crossings amounted to 59.61 thousand tons, and vegetable oil – 33.79 thousand tons.
As of December 7, the queue at the western border crossings amounted to 9.3 thousand cars, which is 8.4% less than the day before.
In September, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC (UZ) increased the volume of cargo transportation in all types of traffic by 3% compared to the same period last year, to 12.035 million tons, according to preliminary data, the press service of UZ reported on the company’s website.
“The overall growth in transportation was due to a 35.5% increase in domestic freight traffic, up to 7.896 million tons,” the statement said.
At the same time, export transportation by rail in September decreased by 31.2% compared to the same period last year – to 3.578 million tons. In particular, exports of grain cargo decreased almost threefold to 1.072 million tons. At the same time, the volume of iron and manganese ore exports increased by 50.5% in September compared to September 2022, to 1.453 million tons, the report says.
In September, imports by rail decreased by 18% to 518.5 thousand tons, while transit traffic, on the contrary, increased by 2.3 times to 43.2 thousand tons.
In terms of the range of cargoes, mineral building materials are the leaders in terms of volumes: in total, their transportation increased by 77.3% in September 2023 compared to the same period last year – up to 3.310 million tons. In domestic traffic, the growth was 88% to 3.087 million tons.
“September cargo transportation showed a slight increase in total volume, however, for objective reasons, we have negative indicators of export transportation, in particular, strategically important grain cargo. “Ukrzaliznytsia once again emphasizes its readiness to transport all the necessary volumes and calls on partners from neighboring countries to jointly develop railway logistics between countries and strengthen business relations,” the statement quoted UZ Board member Vyacheslav Yeryomin as saying.
Earlier it was reported that in January-August, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC (UZ) transported 10.5% less cargo than in the same period last year – 94.9 million tons. At the same time, in August the volume of transportation amounted to 12.3 million tons, which is 13.8% more than in August last year.
Ukrzaliznytsia JSC (UZ) has addressed to the carriers with a request to increase transportation through Hungarian border crossing points (BCP), which are currently underutilized and have reserves for cargo transfer, Deputy Director of Commercial Work Department of the company Valery Tkachev said on Tuesday at the online meeting with Hungarian carriers.
According to him, in June a total of 1,789 cars were handled at Chop-Zakhon crossing point and they transported 95.8 thousand tons of cargo of different nomenclature: on average this crossing in both directions handles 59.6 cars per day (w/w), including 51 cars for export from Ukraine.
Comparing June indicators with May ones, Tkachev noted an increase of cargo flow at this gateway by 13 w/c, or 27.4%.
UZ representative reminded that during last four months the maximum level of cargo traffic through Chop-Zakhon was registered in March – 83 car/cargo.
Tkachev noted that to date the main nomenclature of the crossing “Chop-Zakhon” grain, which in June was transferred at 50.5 r/c.
According to his information, there are 4 carriers at this intersection. The biggest is Rail Cargo Hungary (RCH), which in June handled 904 cars at a rate of over 30 b/c. RCH’s largest nomenclature is grains (707 cars), apart from which 85 cars with containers and imported oil cargoes were handled.
MMV Magyar Maganvasut Zrt (MMV) handled 421 wagons at the Chop-Zahan BC in June at a rate of 14 v/c. Grain also accounted for the bulk of the cargo – 370 wagons, and oil cargo imports also accounted for a significant share.
Magyar Vasuti Aruszallito Kft. (MVA) handled 402 cars at 13.5 v/c, of which 377 were loaded with grain.
CD Cargo Hungary accounted for 62 cars of grain cargo in June
“As for Chop-Zakhon, we don’t see any queue on the wide gauge (1524 mm), the narrow gauge (1435 mm) is dealt with. That is, I personally do not see any problems with the transfer and with the work of “Chop-Zalkhan”,” – said Tkachev.
According to UZ in June in Batevo-Epereshkoe 3 731 carriages with 252,3 thousand tons of different nomenclature were processed. On average, 121 v/c was dispatched from Ukraine for export, while 3.5 v/c was received. In total, this joint handles 124.4 v/c.
“For Batevo-Epereshka, we see a significant slump and a drop in cargo work of 28.5 v/c, or 18.6%. If we look at the grain group, we transfer an average of 20.6 v/c through this crossing. Last month this figure was almost 26 v/c. We in March, for example, handled 94 grain v/c. Today, unfortunately, “Batevo-Epereshka” only about 21 c / c, “- said Tkachev.
According to his information, two carriers – MMV and RCH – work at this junction. MMV handled 19 v/c: in June 247 out of 565 cars most of them were used for oil.
In turn, RCH on “Batevo-Epereshka” in June handled 3166 cars with 215,2 thousand tons of various cargo types, including the ore – 1945 cars, grain – 531, coal – 205. Its average daily rate is about 105.5 v/c.
“There are only 385 cars moving in the Batevo-Epereshke direction, including 196 with ore, 30 with grain, 25 with cake and 26 with oil. The junction is underloaded, as “Chop-Zakhon”, so there is an opportunity to increase”, – added Tkachev.
He also noted that a total of two Hungarian crossing handle the largest volume of grain per day – more than 70 cars.
“This is more than all the joints of Poland (four BCPs), Romania and other countries. That is, today Hungary is the leader in handling grain cargoes,” – stated Tkachev.
JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” (UZ) in May 2023 transported 1836 thousand tons of grain cargo, which is 33% less than a month earlier, said deputy director of the department of commercial work UZ Valery Tkachev at a meeting with representatives of agrarian business on Thursday.
According to his information 1147 thousand tons of grain cargo were sent for export last month, which is 46% less than in April. In domestic communication 683 thousand tons were transported, which is 16% less than in April. Average daily loading in May was 44 thousand tons.
“Two factors influenced the reduction of transportation – the blocking by the aggressor of the “grain corridor”, which affected the delivery of goods by rail to ports, as well as the blocking of exports through “solidarity corridors” by European countries, which led to a halving of cargo handling through the western borders of Ukraine”, – explained Tkachev.
He added that UZ is ready to increase transportation, for which it has sufficient resources.
According to the operational data of UZ, in the first week of June 2023 the volume of grain cargo loading was 380 thousand tons, or 15% of the total cargo. Average daily volumes of transshipment during this period amounted to 54 thousand tons, which is 2.2 times higher than in April.
According to Tkachev, the actual average daily volume of agricultural cargo transshipment through the border crossings in June 2023 increased by 90 cars compared to May. Grain cargo increased by eight cars per day.
A UZ representative said that 9,740 railcars, of which 1,084 railcars with grain cargoes, are heading toward the western border. The queue for agricultural commodities has decreased by 343 cars (24%).
“Wagon congestion is ‘dissipating,’ thanks to the balancing of border loads. As long as the grain corridor works, the load on the western borders is reduced. Also transfer through European countries became more active”, – UZ representative explained.
Speaking about the transshipment of grain at the Ukrainian-Polish border, Tkachev said that in May at the checkpoint “Yagodin-Dorohusk” average daily passed 17.3 cars with grain, crossing “Izov-Grubeshov” – 20 per day, crossing “Mostiska-Medica” – 22.13 per day. At the Romanian BCP “Vadul-Siret-Dornesti” average was 47.7 w/c with grain, BCP “Dyakovo-Halmeu” – 8.5 w/c.
At the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, grain cargo transshipment in May at BCP “Chop-Zakhon” was 39.5 per/c, at BCP “Bat’ovo-Betereshki” in May transshipment of 25.6 per/c was recorded, the maximum rate in May – 93.9 per/c.
“For all Western BCPs, if we analyze the statistics of the last five months, there is a sagging of shipments from one and a half to five times. The remaining restrictions on exports with the permission of transit significantly affect the export of grain through the western borders,” – summarized Tkachev.
The head of UZ reported that, as of June 8, 2023 in the direction of the ports of Greater Odessa moves 2663 railcars with grain cargo. The average daily unloading in June is 493 cars with grain. Unloading waiting time (queue) is 4.9 days.
As of June 8, 1,656 railcars with grain cargo are bound for Port Ismail. Since May 29, the queue decreased by 23.48%. The average daily unloading for June was 122 grain cars. Unloading waiting time (queue) reaches 11.3 days.
“The work of the “grain corridor” today is difficult to predict, the aggressor country constantly changes the number of inspections of ships and puts forward different requirements, in addition the work of the port “Southern” is blocked. The situation in the port of Izmail remains difficult because of the large accumulation of cars. Loading in the port direction is planned taking into account the processing capacity of consignees/operators, but due to weather conditions they unload significantly less than planned volume,” UZ noted.
