Top 10 busiest ports in the Ukraine: Latest Comprehensive Guide

As a leading freight forwarder specializing in seamless logistics solutions, we at Zhejiang Wilson Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. understand the critical role that Ukraine's ports play in global trade. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war, Ukraine remains a vital hub for agricultural, industrial, and commodity exports, particularly for grain, metals, and petroleum products. This article explores the top 10 busiest ports in Ukraine, offering insights into their operations, capacities, and strategic importance for international traders, shipping companies, and logistics professionals.

Ukraine's Trade and Port Landscape

Pre-War Significance

Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, Ukraine was a global leader in agricultural exports, ranking as one of the world's largest wheat exporters. The country also played a significant role in exporting fertilizers, metals, minerals, and machinery. Its strategic location along the Black Sea and Danube River made its ports critical nodes in international trade routes connecting Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Impact of the War

The 2022 conflict severely disrupted Ukraine's port operations, with many Black Sea ports facing blockades or destruction. Key hubs like Mariupol were heavily damaged, and traditional shipping routes were compromised. However, Ukraine's resilience shone through with the establishment of a navy-established sea corridor in August 2023, enabling the safe passage of vessels. By 2024, Ukraine's ports handled 37.7 million tonnes of cargo in the first four months alone, nearly doubling the previous year's figures, with grain exports leading at 6.3 million tonnes.

Recovery and Growth

The recovery of Ukraine's port system has been remarkable. In 2023, total cargo throughput reached 62 million tonnes, a 5% increase from the previous year. The Danube River ports, such as Izmail and Reni, have emerged as critical alternatives, supporting multimodal transport and sustaining Ukraine's role in global supply chains. With 1,600 vessels utilizing the sea corridor by May 2024, exporting 45 million tonnes to 44 countries, Ukraine's ports are regaining their prominence.

How We Evaluate Ukraine's Busiest Ports

To identify Ukraine's top 10 busiest ports, we assess several key metrics:

• Annual Cargo Throughput (Tonnes): Measures overall logistics capacity.
• Container Throughput (TEU): Indicates suitability for international trade.
• Infrastructure: Includes berth count, water depth, storage facilities, and multimodal connectivity.
• Geographic Accessibility: Proximity to Black Sea or Danube River, with rail and road networks.
• Cargo Specialization: Dedicated terminals for grain, petroleum, or Ro-Ro cargo.

Top 10 Busiest Ports in Ukraine

Port of Odessa

• Location: Black Sea, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAODS
• Overview: As Ukraine's largest port, Odessa handles 40 million tonnes annually, with a container capacity of 700,000 TEU. Located in a free economic zone, it offers 54 berths (7–11.5m depth) and four main terminals: container, transit-freight, oil and gas, and passenger.
• Specialization: Grain, petroleum, refrigerated cargo, and containers.
• Advantages: Extensive rail connectivity and cultural facilities make it a versatile hub.

Port of Pivdennyi (Yuzhny)

• Location: Black Sea, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAPIV
• Overview: Ukraine's deepest ice-free port, Pivdennyi manages one-third of the nation's cargo (35.8 million tonnes annually, 550,000 TEU). It has 29 berths and three complexes for coal/ore, gas/chemicals, and bulk cargo.
• Specialization: Petroleum, chemicals, liquid ammonia, coal, and steel.
• Advantages: Handles vessels up to 200,000 tons with an 18.9m draft.

Port of Chernomorsk

• Location: Black Sea, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAILK
• Overview: A multimodal hub with 260,000 m² of terminal space and 650,000 TEU capacity, Chernomorsk handles 32 million tonnes yearly. It features 129 berths and advanced container systems.
• Specialization: Ro-Ro, grain, edible oils, and minerals.
• Advantages: Strategic location at major transport route intersections.

Port of Mykolaiv (Nikolaev)

• Location: Yuzhny Bug River, Mykolaiv Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UANLV
• Overview: Located 65 km from the Black Sea, Mykolaiv handles 10,000 tonnes of coal daily across 14 berths, with a 523,881 TEU capacity. It spans 97 hectares.
• Specialization: Coal, grain, metals, and fertilizers.
• Advantages: Strong rail connectivity for inland transport.

Port of Mariupol

• Location: Sea of Azov, Donetsk Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAMPW
• Overview: Pre-war, Mariupol was a major hub with 18.8 million tonnes capacity across 22 berths. It handled coal, steel, and containers.
• Specialization: Coal, metals, and containers.
• Advantages: Extensive repair facilities and rail network (27.1 km).

Port of Berdyansk

• Location: Sea of Azov, Zaporizhzhia Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAERD
• Overview: With 1.46 million tonnes of coal capacity and nine berths, Berdyansk handles 3,000 TEU annually. It features oil, container, and grain terminals.
• Specialization: Petroleum, grain, and containers.
• Advantages: Year-round operations with ice-class vessel support.

Port of Izmail

• Location: Danube River, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UAIZM
• Overview: A key river-sea transshipment hub with 1 million tonnes of coal capacity, Izmail handles grain, metals, and fertilizers. Its water depth ranges from 7.1–9.1m.
• Specialization: Grain and multimodal transport.
• Advantages: Strong rail and river connectivity, with significant post-war growth.

Port of Reni

• Location: Danube River, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UARNI
• Overview: Operating year-round with 36 rail tracks, Reni handles 7 million tonnes annually across berths with 3.5–12m depth.
• Specialization: Grain, fertilizers, metals, and petroleum.
• Advantages: Multimodal hub connecting river, sea, road, and rail.

Port of Ust-Dunaisk

• Location: Danube River, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UADUY
• Overview: A smaller port with 1 million tonnes capacity, Ust-Dunaisk supports river-sea transshipment across two berths.
• Specialization: General, bulk, and liquid cargo.
• Advantages: Strategic for lightweight cargo and river transport.

Port of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky

• Location: Black Sea, Dnestrovskiy Liman, Odessa Oblast
• UN/LOCODE: UABGD
• Overview: Handling 2.7 million tonnes annually, this port has nine berths (3.5–5.2m depth) and processes 320 vessels yearly.
• Specialization: Grain, timber, livestock, and containers.
• Advantages: Ideal for coastal and lightweight cargo.

Port Comparison Table

Choosing the Right Port for Your Cargo

Selecting the optimal port depends on your cargo type and logistics needs:

• Bulk Grain Exports: Opt for Odessa, Chernomorsk, or Izmail, which offer specialized grain terminals and robust rail connectivity.
• Containerized Cargo: Choose Odessa or Chernomorsk for their advanced container facilities and high TEU capacities.
• Chemicals and Liquid Cargo: Pivdennyi is ideal, with dedicated terminals for petroleum, liquid ammonia, and chemicals.
• Eastern Industrial Cargo: Pre-war, Mariupol was the go-to; now, consider Izmail or Reni for alternatives.
• Lightweight River Transport: Danube ports like Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk are best for river-sea transshipment.

FAQs

Which Ukrainian ports remain operational?

Black Sea ports (Odessa, Pivdennyi, Chernomorsk) and Danube ports (Izmail, Reni, Ust-Dunaisk) are fully operational.

Are Danube River ports suitable for international exports?

Yes, ports like Izmail and Reni are critical for grain and multimodal exports, connecting to European markets via river, rail, and road.

Which port is best for agricultural products?

Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Izmail have specialized grain terminals and high throughput forAgricultural products.

Which ports offer cold-chain facilities?

Odessa supports refrigerated cargo with dedicated cold-chain infrastructure.

Which port is ideal for Ro-Ro vehicles?

Chernomorsk excels in Ro-Ro transport with advanced facilities.

Which port is best for container shipping?

Odessa and Chernomorsk lead with high TEU capacities and modern container terminals.

Do Ukrainian ports offer rail connectivity?

Most ports, including Odessa, Mykolaiv, Izmail, and Reni, have extensive rail networks for efficient inland transport.

Conclusion

Ukraine has many high-quality ports and holds an important hub position in global trade, especially in the export of grain and resources. When choosing a port, enterprises should take into account the type of goods, port infrastructure and the geographical advantages of the port, and cooperate with reliable freight forwarders to deal with complex situations.

Sea freight services from China to major ports in Ukraine

As one of Ukraine's largest trade partners, China exports machinery, electronics, and textiles to Ukraine's key ports. Navigating customs, delays, and cost fluctuations can be challenging, but Zhejiang Wilson Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. offers reliable, cost-effective sea freight solutions. With over a decade of global logistics expertise, we connect major Chinese ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao) to Ukraine's Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Pivdennyi. Whether you need Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL), we ensure timely delivery. Please contact us to get a cheap quote for sea freight from China to Ukraine. ( gm@wilson-cargo.com )