Danube Ports Receive 2.4 Times More Grain Than Greater Odesa Ports

Ukrainian Danube ports, notably Izmail and Reni, are demonstrating significantly higher volumes of grain reception by rail in October 2026 compared to the ports of Greater Odesa. According to recent logistics monitoring data, over the past week, the average unloading rate in Danube ports stood at 78 grain cars per day, whereas in Greater Odesa this figure was only 32 cars per day. Thus, the difference reaches approximately 2.4 times.

As of October 15, the largest volume of grain transportation was recorded precisely toward the Danube ports. Specifically, 575 grain carriers were heading to Izmail and 694 to Reni, totaling 1,269 cars. The average daily loading toward these ports reached 56 cars. For comparison, only 80 grain cars were moving toward Greater Odesa ports, with an average loading rate of about 10 cars per day.

Over the past week, the situation underwent certain changes: earlier, 1,501 grain carriers headed to Danube ports, with an average unloading rate of 82 cars per day. However, by October 15, this indicator decreased to 1,269 units, and the unloading pace dropped to 78 cars per day. In Greater Odesa ports, the rates declined even more significantly, falling from 42 cars per day the previous week to 32 cars currently, representing a drop of nearly 24%.

Against the backdrop of limited operations at Greater Odesa ports, pressure on overland logistics and western borders is intensifying. At western border crossings as of October 15, the total queue of railcars reached 20,756 units, of which 4,422 were specialized grain carriers. An average of 507 grain cars were transferred across the border daily to maintain export continuity.

The largest volume of grain transportation among western routes was carried out toward Hungary at 94 cars per day. Shipments toward Poland stood at 85 cars, Romania at 78, and Slovakia at 67 cars per day. Under current conditions, Ukraine's export logistics are effectively divided between the Danube ports and western border crossings, while the strategic importance of Izmail and Reni in export chains continues to grow.