Ukrainian Black Sea container terminals in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine handled 979,000 TEU in the first nine months of 2024, including empty containers and transshipment.
This marks a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2023, reports InformalBiz BG
The turnover of loaded containers increased in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine, with Ukraine showing the highest growth at 79%.
During this period, 53% of all containers processed were imports, while 47% were exports. The share of loaded containers was 77%, and empty containers accounted for 22%.
Import volumes to these countries increased by 19% compared to 2023. Ukraine showed the highest growth in import volumes, at 116%, a record growth rate.
Romania saw a 23% increase, while Bulgaria experienced a decrease of about 3%. Exports from these countries grew by nearly 10%, primarily due to increased exports from Ukraine and Bulgaria, which rose by 64% and 14%, respectively. Romania saw a slight increase in exports of loaded containers.
The forecast for container turnover in the Black Sea region for 2024-2025 shows an increase of 5-7%, exceeding 3 million TEU in 2025. The main driver of this growth will be the further recovery and expansion of direct container links with Ukrainian ports.
