In April 2025, despite increased shelling, logistical difficulties, and a general decline in production, Ukraine's maritime ports handled 6 million tons of cargo. 

This was reported by Ukrinform, referencing the Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration (USPA).

What were the cargo handling figures for Ukrainian ports in April 2024?

The majority of cargo consisted of grains and ore, as has traditionally been the case.

According to the provided data, in April, Ukrainian ports processed 3.1 million tons of grain and 1 million tons of ore. Within the framework of the Ukrainian maritime corridor, 5.3 million tons of cargo were transported, of which 2.9 million tons were agricultural products.

According to USPA, the largest volumes of cargo handling were recorded in the ports of so-called Greater Odesa. Specifically, in April, the port of “Pivdennyi” handled 2.4 million tons, the Black Sea port handled 1.8 million tons, while the Odesa port processed 1 million tons. Ports in the Danube region (Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk) together processed about 800 thousand tons of cargo.

Vyacheslav Kharkavenko, Deputy Head of USPA, noted that despite numerous challenges, Ukrainian maritime ports maintain operational resilience even under high risks.

He mentioned challenges such as reduced sown areas due to the full-scale war, mining, and the temporary occupation of parts of territories, as well as a decline in industry, particularly metallurgy, where up to 80% of products were exported before the war.

“Additionally, the spring season is traditionally characterized by a decrease in agricultural exports, which begin to rise in mid-summer. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian ports continue to fulfill their functions and remain an important support for the country’s economy,” Kharkavenko concluded.

Ukraine Restores Ferry Connection with Georgia for the First Time in Three Years of War

Earlier, Ukraine successfully restored ferry connections with Georgia, completing two trips from the port of Chornomorsk to the Georgian port of Batumi. These were the first such trips since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

In 2024, the value of bilateral trade between Ukraine and the European Union reached a record $17 billion.

Ukraine and 28 EU member countries created a political and economic association, and in 2022, following the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine applied for EU candidate status.

The EU also reduced import quotas for sugar from Ukraine, forcing producers to shift their focus to markets in Asia and the Middle East.