Danube ports, rail and road can carry 4.5 mln tonnes of exports out of 6 mln that went by sea – infrastructure ministry
Alternative routes covering Danube ports, rail and road logistics make it possible to export about 4.5 million tonnes of cargo per month out of the 6 million tonnes that Ukraine's maritime corridor could handle, First Deputy Minister for Reconstruction, Infrastructure and Transport Serhiy Derkach has told Interfax-Ukraine.
Ukraine's infrastructure ministry has revealed that alternative routes via Danube ports, rail, and road can transport approximately 4.5 million tonnes of exports per month, compared to the 6 million tonnes that could have been shipped via maritime routes. First Deputy Minister for Reconstruction, Infrastructure and Transport Serhiy Derkach emphasized that this figure disproves claims of a collapse in exports.
Grain constitutes about 4 million tonnes of the total 6 million tonnes of cargo transported via the maritime corridor, while metals and iron ore make up the remaining 2 million tonnes.
The Danube ports are playing a crucial role in this alternative logistical network, currently handling up to 3 million tonnes of cargo monthly. Despite Russia's intensified attacks on these ports, the ministry is implementing additional measures to ensure their continued operation. Derkach mentioned that the ministry is also collaborating with Romania to train Ukrainian pilots to guide vessels through the Sulina maritime canal, currently operating only during daylight hours.
The infrastructure ministry is also working to expand checkpoints, including a new bridge between Ukraine and Moldova in Yampil, Vinnytsia region, which could double the freight capacity once completed. This expansion would increase border capacity by 15-20% in the coming year.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
