Danube ports: Record growth in cargo handling in 2023

During the first decade of 2023, the Ukrainian ports of the Danube Cluster, in particular Reni, Izmail and Ust-Dunaisk, have been impressing the world community with significant achievements. Between January and October 2023, cargo handling volumes at these ports doubled, reaching an impressive 27.6 million tons. This is 2.2 times more than in the same period last year, when the volume amounted to 12.6 million tons.

According to Ukrinform, Yuriy Lytvyn, Head of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA), announced this impressive achievement during the Infrastructure Day. It was noted that the number of vessels handled in the Danube ports between January and October 2023 increased by 54.3%, reaching a high of 12 thousand.

The cargo turnover indicator was also impressive - compared to January-October 2021, when the volume of cargo handled in the Danube ports was only 4.4 million tons, cargo turnover increased by 6.3 times. This rapid growth indicates that the Danube ports continue to improve their infrastructure and attract more cargo.

According to Lytvyn, of the total volume of cargo handled between January and October of both years (40.2 million tons), 18.3 million tons were grains, 3.6 million tons were ore, 3.2 million tons were oil, 2.6 million tons were oil products, and 12.4 million tons were other types of cargo. This distribution reflects the diversity of materials handled at the ports of the Danube Cluster.

In the context of global trends and steady growth, the achievements of the Danube ports in 2023 demonstrate their efficiency and significant contribution to the development of trade and the region's economy. It also demonstrates the high level of competitiveness of Ukrainian maritime infrastructure in the international market.