ODESSA, FEBRUARY 25th, 2015, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE — Yuzhny and Odessa ports have become leaders in grain handling last year, as a whole 47% of the total transshipment of the country, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The press service of the Administration of the Ports of Ukraine noted today, 25 February.

According to the information, a significant increase in grain exports affected on the overall positive processing of seaports of Ukraine.

Thus, in 2014, exports grew by 20%. It was facilitated by large carryover stocks of grain accumulated in 2013 and a record harvest of grains and oilseeds in the last year — 64 million tons. In addition, in 2014 the export of these products contributed to the pricing environment, including reducing the cost of freight in the world markets. It is predicted that in 2015 the export of grain will grow and remain the engine of general cargo handling in the port.

The main importers of Ukrainian grain in the past few months were Spain and Saudi Arabia. In this case, the cash inflow grew by only 7.2% — to USD 28.3 million. According to experts, this mismatch is a result of the decline in world prices for grain and corn, which amounted to 25-30%. In addition, this season Ukraine has changed the structure of exports of agricultural products: sell large volumes of relatively low-cost goods and less — expensive.

Based on 12 months of 2014 leaders in shipments of grain are Yuzhny and Odessa seaports.

Thus, in 2014 Yuzhny sea port handled 9 million 139 thousand 790 tons (27% of the total for the country), the port of Odessa – 6 million 675 thousand 890 tons (20% of the total); Ilyichivsk port — 4 million 593 thousand 40 tons (13%); Reni port — 624 thousand 760 tons (2%).