Congestion and lengthy waiting times to enter the Danube and return to the Black Sea have extended grain delivery times from Ukraine to Egypt, a key importer, to more than a month from 12 days, threatening profitability, shippers said on Tuesday.
Most cargo shipments, including grain, had been rerouted through Danube river ports after Russian attacks effectively blocked Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which had handled 90 per cent of the country's exports.
Ukraine operates three major river ports on the Danube, and all maritime exports and imports, including priority cargoes, are now routed through them.
However, the Sulina Canal is used not only by vessels heading to Ukrainian ports, but also by ships bound for ports in Romania and Moldova, resulting in long delays, higher freight costs and, consequently, reduced competitiveness of Ukrainian grain on international markets.
ASAP Agri consultancy said the cost of shipping one tonne of grain from Ukraine's Danube ports to Egyptian ports was around $105 as of September 11, compared with $30 on July 11, when Black Sea ports were still operating.
"Cargo supply is substantial, while the availability of coaster tonnage willing to perform such voyages remains limited, particularly, amid rapidly mounting delays at Sulina," ASAP Agri said.
It noted that waiting time is reported not only for entry into the canal but also for exit, reaching approximately 15 and 3 days, respectively.
"Consequently, owners continue to voice high freight ideas, leaving charterers with little choice but to accept it," it added.
Ukraine exported 606,000 tonnes of grain in the first half of September, against 1.57 million tonnes shipped abroad in September 1-19, 2025, official data showed.
The ministry has said the current export volume included 45 per cent shipped via the Danube, 45 per cent via rail crossings with Eastern Europe and 10 per cent delivered by lorries.
Ukrainian authorities have said the country could potentially export at least 500,000 tonnes of grain a month from the Danube ports.
However, shippers say weather in autumn and winter could reduce the volume. They said shipping on the Sulina Canal was suspended on Monday because of high waves.
"Taking into account that autumn and winter are coming, the weather in the region will get worse more often, and the canal will be open for fewer days, there is no real prospect of significantly reducing the transit time on the Danube to/from Ukrainian ports," said Katerina Kononenko of Avalon Shipping.
(reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )
