You're reading: Ukraine’s seaports increase cargo handling by 12.4 percent

Ukrainian ports in the first quarter of 2019 handled about 37 million tonnes of cargo, which is almost 4.1 million tonnes, or 12.4 percent, more than for the same period of 2018, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority has said.

According to its data, the best dynamics was shown by grain with 33.5 percent (over 13.7 million tonnes), ore with more than 30 percent (7.8 million tonnes), sunflower oil with almost 6 percent (about 1.6 million tonnes).

Container handling grew by more than 14 percent, to 223,500 TEU.

The agency said that with the start of the sowing campaign, the imports of chemical and mineral fertilizers, both packaged and bulk, continue growing. The total volume of their transshipment in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to almost 640,000 tonnes, which is more than twice the same figure last year.

According to the report, like in the first quarter of 2018, the growth in transshipment was ensured by exports, which increased by 20.1 percent, or almost 5 million tonnes, while imports and transit, on the contrary, decreased by 6.1 percent and 17.2 percent respectively.

In January-March, Yuzhny port became the absolute leader in terms of cargo handling volumes with 11.6 million tonnes, which is almost 19 percent more than in January-March 2018.