Odesa Business Intel

The Greater Odesa port cluster — comprising the Chornomorsk, Pivdennyi, and Odesa city terminals — recorded combined cargo throughput of 68 million tonnes in 2025, according to data published by the Administration of Seaports of Ukraine and reporting by Ukrainian Shipping Magazine. The total represents a 4% increase from 65.4 million tonnes in 2024. Grain and oilseeds accounted for 62% of total throughput — approximately 42 million tonnes. Bulk fertilizers, metals, and container traffic comprised the remainder. Chornomorsk handled the largest grain volume, followed by Pivdennyi's TIS terminal. ## Wartime operational context Ukrainian port operations have continued despite the conflict through a combination of alternative routing, private vessel risk management, and periodic humanitarian maritime agreements. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, originally brokered by the UN and Turkey, formally expired in July 2023. Since then, Ukraine has operated a de facto grain export corridor through direct coordination with vessel operators willing to transit the western Black Sea. War-risk insurance remains the primary operational constraint. Vessels calling at Odesa-cluster ports pay premiums of 0.75–1.5% of hull value per voyage. These costs are substantially passed to Ukrainian grain exporters through freight rate differentials, reducing the competitiveness of Ukrainian grain on global markets compared to pre-war periods.