Kiev expecting exports via Black Sea to keep up with Feb volumes in March

MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax) - The March exports through the Black Sea maritime corridor, unilaterally proclaimed by Kiev, will keep up with the February volumes of 8 million tonnes, Ukrainian media quoted Ukrainian Deputy Restoration Minister Yury Vaskov as saying in Kiev on Friday.

Despite being a short month, February 2024 saw record exports of 8 million tonnes of Ukrainian goods by the maritime corridor, in addition to 1.2 million tonnes exported through Danube ports, Vaskov said.

"Cargo shipment through the Danube ports has dropped to 50% of the potential reached in 2023 - 1 million tonnes maximum over the past 21 days. Still, this is a rather high level for the Danube," he said.

In his words, the maritime corridor has a potential for larger trade.

"However, we cannot transport more than the country makes. [...] For now, our operating export channels are sufficient for transporting everything made in Ukraine. In terms of quantity, quality and prices, if we are talking about the massive export of agricultural products, ore and metallurgy, we reached the volumes of the grain deal of 2022-2023, and almost 3 million tonnes were transported through the maritime corridor (per month)," Vaskov said.

As many as 150 ships have passed through the Black Sea maritime corridor over the past month, he said.