The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine in the near future might submit a draft resolution on compensation of investments in the port industry to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration, Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion has said. “We are talking about compensation of investments in the port industry of Ukraine, legalization of objects of port infrastructure that are not registered for objective reasons, both public and private,” he said at the Ukrainian Ports Forum 2018 in Odesa. In addition, the official expressed confidence that the ministry will soon complete the development of a new methodology for calculating port dues, as well as preparation of other legislative acts that will promote the development and modernization of seaports and will further provide opportunities to reduce port rates. At the same time, Kistion noted that since the beginning of the year the government has reduced port rates by 20%.
Freight handling at Ukrainian seaports in January-March 2018 totaled 32.8 million tonnes, which is 1.1% more than a year ago, according to tentative data from the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority. According to its data, the volume of transshipment of imported cargo increased by 30% and amounted to 5.6 million tonnes. Handling of imported coal grew by 24.1%, to 1.4 million tonnes, ores by 20.7%, to 1.9 million tonnes, crude oil transshipment grew by 51%, to 544,000 tonnes.
The volume of transshipment of exported cargo decreased 7.4%, to 23.8 million tonnes. Handling of exported ferrous metals grew by 17%, to 4.2 million tonnes.
Handling of transit freights rose by 38.4%, to 3.2 million tonnes.
In general, the seaports of Ukraine processed 2,853 vessels in January-March 2018, which is 345 vessels, or 9.7% more compared to the same period in 2017.
