Ukrainian seaports handled less cargo and more ships in first half of 2018

In the first half of 2018, Ukrainian seaports handled 63.8 million tonnes of cargo, 3.1 per cent less than the same period in 2017.

The decrease in cargo turnover occurred across two main types of cargo, grain and ore. A 10.3 per cent decrease in grain export was attributed to a decrease in trade activity during the off-season and a high level of competition. A growth of grain trans-shipment in Ukrainian ports is expected to occur during July.

The decrease of ore exports in the first six months of 2018 was 26.5 per cent. The largest decline in ore trans-shipment was recorded by Yuzhny seaport across two terminals, TIS-Ore, a 34.9 per cent decline, and SE “YCSP”, a 20.8 per cent decline.

Ukrainian steelmakers’ association Ukrmetallurgprom credits the significant decline to a severe shortage of rolling stock, such as locomotives and wagons, provided by Ukrainian Railways. 

Overall, the trans-shipment of export cargo amounted to 46.1 million tonnes, which is 8.9 per cent less than in the same period of 2017. The highest growth was recorded in ferrous metals, at 8.1 million tonnes, a 16.5 percent increase. This included 4.8 million tonnes of rolled metal and 1.6 million tonnes of cast iron, of which there was a 66.5 per cent rise.

Transshipment of import cargo increased by 18.7 per cent and amounted to almost 11 million tonnes, against 9.2 million tonnes in the first half of 2017. 

Despite the drop in cargo in 2018, Ukrainian seaports have handled 176 more vessels, for a total 5,848 ships, which is or 3.1 per cent more than in the same period of 2017.