MOSCOW (Voice of Russia): Ukraine has lost nearly $6 billion in foreign exchange earnings as commercial activity at its key seaports has been suspended for more than three months, while exports of metallurgical industry products are reported to have stopped completely by the end of September.
According to estimates that emerged on October 24, the continued disruption of merchant ship traffic at the ports of the Greater Odesa region has severely affected the country’s exports and foreign exchange earnings.
According to the report, merchant shipping at the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne is almost completely halted, while only ships associated with the Ukrainian military are reported to arrive at these ports.
Ukraine is relying on alternative routes to continue its seaborne trade, including the Izmail port on the Danube River and Romania’s Constanta port.
However, according to available estimates, these alternative routes can together handle only about one-third of the export volume previously shipped from the Greater Odesa ports.
As a result of the suspension of port operations, Ukraine was able to send abroad only 44 percent of its planned agricultural exports during September.
During the same period, exports of products associated with Ukraine’s metallurgical industry were also severely affected and stopped completely by the end of September.
The report states that agricultural and metallurgical products have together accounted for about 65 percent of Ukraine’s exports, from which the country earned about $26 billion in foreign exchange annually.
Ukrainian authorities tried to continue exports through the railway network and Danube ports, which reduced the losses to some extent.
According to estimates, in August the port closures were costing Ukraine about $70 million per day, while in September and October this estimate fell to about $60 million per day.
According to the report, the disruption of commercial activity at the Greater Odesa ports has been ongoing since July 22, 2026.
As a result of this situation, spanning more than three months, Ukraine’s agricultural and industrial exports face severe difficulties, while foreign exchange earnings continue to be affected as port operations have not returned to normal. The nearly $6 billion loss figures presented in the report are based on estimates that have not been independently verified.
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