Belarus reduced transit of metals across Ukraine by one third in 11M

According to the data provided by Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) JSC’s Main Information and Computing Center, in January–November 2021, Belarus reduced transits of metal products through Ukraine by 34.5% to 398.7 thousand tons compared to the same period of the previous year.

Thus, 380.4 thousand tons of metal products were shipped from the border railway station Berezhest to Odessa port (railway station Odessa-Port exp.) in 11M. This is 35.8% down from the same period a year earlier.

Apart from Odessa port, which ships products to distant markets, Belarusian steel plants shipped metals to the port of Izmail, which transships cargoes to Europe. In 11M 2021, 12.8 thousand tons of ferrous metals from Belarus arrived at Izmail railway station (exp.). This is 97.9% down from 11M 2020.

Since September, Belarusian products were also transited across Ukraine to Moldova via the railway stations Slobidka and Mohyliv-Podilskyi. Over the period from September to November, 5.5 thousand tons of ferrous metals were shipped from the stations. Last year, products of Belarusian steel plants were not shipped in transit along these routes.

Byelorussian Steel Works (BSW) is the main sender of metal products from Belarus in transit through Ukraine. At the end of 2020, BSW was among the top three in terms of shipping products through Ukrainian ports. Over the year, the enterprise transshipped 460.02 thousand tons of metals via Ukrainian ports, 12.3% up from 2019.

According to Ruslan Sakhautdinov, ex-head of Odesa Port, in 2020, BSW’s share in the turnover of Odessa Seaport was about 11–12%. Top three is represented by Ukrainian companies: ArcelorMittal (46%), Dniprovskyi Iron and Steel Works (14.7%), and Zaporizhstal (11.2%).

For more details on the dynamics of transshipment of metal products via Ukrainian ports, see GMK Center’s infographics.