The ports of Greater Odesa handle the majority of Ukraine’s agricultural exports, and there is currently no viable alternative to this route. At the same time, continued Russian attacks on port infrastructure are causing delays in cargo handling, increasing logistics costs, disrupting market access, and inflicting billions of dollars in losses on the agricultural sector. This was stated by Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC).

"Sea transport remains the key logistics route, as approximately 90% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports are shipped by sea. Attacks on port infrastructure lead to delays in cargo transshipment, processing, and storage. This results in additional losses for agricultural producers. In addition, direct losses are being incurred by companies that own storage and transshipment facilities in the ports. To date, these losses have already exceeded $1.5 billion," Denys Marchuk emphasized.

Beyond the immediate economic damage, attacks on port infrastructure pose serious risks to Ukraine’s position in global agricultural markets and its international trade relationships.

"Failure to fulfill contracts on time can result in the loss of export markets, and we are already witnessing this trend. Ukraine currently has significant carryover stocks of corn and wheat, while the inability to meet contractual obligations in a timely manner undermines long-standing trade relationships with countries in Africa and Asia. The enemy is actively exploiting this situation, as these attacks are aimed not only at causing economic losses but also at weakening Ukraine’s foreign trade position—one that will be extremely difficult to restore in the future," Denys Marchuk concluded.