Ukraine exported 20 million tons of cargo through the temporary sea corridor despite Russian attacks

The temporary sea corridor was established on August 8, 2023, after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Since then, about 20 million tons of goods, including 14,3 million tons of agricultural products, were exported from Ukrainian ports.

“Ukraine supports world food security. 104 more vessels were declared for arrival to export 3 million tons of cargo. Ukrainian ports increase exports. In January, 6,3 million tons were exported,” commented Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine on X (Twitter). According to Kubrakov, export volumes for January 2024 are almost “equal to the pre-war level”, and the goods are exported to 32 countries worldwide.

Ukraine established the temporary sea corridor after the Russian Federation suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023. Ukrainian grain export is essential for global food security, and the new sea route has been aimed at restoring supply chains, disrupted by the Russian invasion, as well as supporting the Ukrainian economy.

Read more: Russia’s famine game

Russia has been actively trying to compromise the operations of the sea corridor by targeting the port infrastructure and vessels in Ukrainian territorial waters.

“Since July 18, 2023, the aggressor country has attacked the port infrastructure more than 30 times: 109 facilities and six civilian buildings have been damaged or completely destroyed,” said Oleksii Panasiuk, Head of International Relations Department of the State Enterprise “Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority” (SE “USPA”). The damages include grain elevators and warehouses, administrative buildings, transport, and cargo, grain in particular.

“According to preliminary estimates, the restoration and reconstruction of the Izmail port terminal alone is estimated at $1,6 million, and the reconstruction of the Odesa passenger terminal at $18 million. To ensure the stable operation of the Odesa port, it is necessary to conduct major repair works of more than 2 thousand meters of the overpass, which was damaged during the missile attack, with a preliminary cost of $35 million,” emphasized Oleksii Panasiuk.