Danube ports triple cargo handling amid Black Sea security challenges

Due to the worsening security situation in the Black Sea, ports within the Danube cluster have successfully tripled their cargo handling volumes. The announcement was made by Mykola Kalashnyk, Minister for Restoration, Infrastructure, and Transport, during the Hour of Questions to the Government in the Verkhovna Rada.

According to the official, July marked one of the most challenging periods for maritime logistics. While Greater Odesa ports previously handled an average of 6 million metric tons of cargo monthly, the volume plummeted to just about 300,000 tons in August, representing a 95% drop from total volumes.

Amidst these security hurdles, the Danube cluster ports absorbed a significant share of the freight traffic. While Reni, Izmail, and Ust-Dunaisk handled an average of 560,000 tons in the first half of the year, their throughput surged to nearly 1.5 million tons between July and September.

In addition, Ukraine has substantially increased agricultural exports, particularly grains, through western border crossings. Compared to the average monthly figures of 2025, growth in this sector exceeded fourfold.

Earlier reports also indicated shifts in freight rates, with shipping costs from Danube ports to Egypt increasing by $10 per ton within a single week as logistics adapted to the regional constraints.