Number of grain hoppers headed to Greater Odessa ports rising in Ukraine

MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax) - The number of grain hoppers headed to the Greater Odessa ports continues to grow: it has increased by 26.3% to 5,341 over the past week, Ukrainian media said, citing a statement by Ukrainian Railways Commerce Department Deputy Director Valery Tkachyov on a social network.

"The number of grain hoppers headed to the Greater Odessa ports continues to grow - the reading went up from 4,227 to 5,341 hoppers over the past week," Tkachyov said.

It was noted that an average daily number of hoppers unloaded at the Greater Odessa ports doubled in the reporting period to 815. Over the week, the daily number of grain hoppers unloaded at the Greater Odessa ports ranged from 750 to 970.

Shipments to the ports are on the rise thanks to the temporary maritime corridor to and from the Greater Odessa ports unilaterally opened by Ukraine, Tkachyov said. In his words, Ukrainian Railways transported 3.58 million tonnes of export cargo in September and increased the transportation to 4.87 million tonnes in October mostly owing to the resumed operation of Black Sea ports.

"Besides grain, the transportation of ore and metal to the Black Sea ports began in mid-October. I am expecting further increase in the transportation of exported grains, ore and, possibly, metal products in November if the corridor continues to work," Tkachyov said.

As the number of hoppers headed to the Greater Odessa ports grows, the line of hoppers destined for the Danube ports is shrinking. For instance, the line of hoppers headed to the Izmail port has shrank 34.89% to 825. An average daily number of grain hoppers unloaded at the Izmail port decreased by 7% to 159 over the week.