With Russia harassing shipping on the Sea of Azov, Ukrzaliznytsia should upgrade its rail connection from Mariupol to Mikolaiv port on the Black Sea, Oleksandr Lyubarev, finance director of Metinvest, told ICU’s Forum in Odesa. So far this year, Metinvest has sent 35-40% of its product out of Mariupol by rail. The rail line goes far inland, takes three days, and is more expensive than shipping on large ships from the Azov. Metinvest is investing about $200 million in Mariupol this year, part of a 4-year, 33% percent expansion of local steel production. He said: “We are importing through Azov Sea, and exporting through the Azov Sea.” Because of the low height of Russia’s new Kerch bridge, he said some 50,000-ton capacity ships have adapted by cutting their radio masts, sometimes putting them on hinges.
With Russia harassing shipping on the Sea of Azov, Ukrzaliznytsia should upgrade its rail connection from Mariupol to Mikolaiv port on the Black Sea
