As of January 29, dozens of ships were loading in the ports of Odesa. Agricultural products are exported the most, and metallurgy accounts for a significant portion. Nine vessels were in the port of Odesa, another 17 in Chornomorsk, and five in Pivdennyy. In addition, another 10 ships were on their way to leave the ports.
Near the Sulina Canal, a queue of bulkers, which are supposed to enter the Danube ports, has formed. There are more than 30 ships in Izmail, Ust-Dunaisk, and Kilia that are transporting agricultural and metal products. Most of them will go for transshipment to European ports on the Danube.
The Economist writes that restoring operations at the Black Sea’s deep-water ports adds billions of dollars in export profits. Intensive exports will help strengthen the exchange rate and even affect GDP growth.
According to Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, the unblocking of sea routes should add at least $3.3B to export figures, or 1.2% of Ukraine’s GDP to the economy.