Ukraine plans to create a new export route along the Danube bypassing the border with Poland
This is written by TTS with reference to the information of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure.
"The plans for this year are to remove all artificial obstacles for exporters. And we are working on improving internal logistics. We are planning to transport containers through the upper Danube, as Romania is more predictable than the Polish border", - said the vice-premier Minister of Reconstruction of Ukraine - Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, in a comment to Bloomberg correspondents during the Munich Security Conference.
The new additional route through the Danube River is designed to increase Ukrainian exports to the level that was at the beginning of the war. And although many exporters prefer the Black Sea due to its low cost, the volumes through the Danube for Ukraine still amount to 1.2-1.8 million tons per month.
It is noted that the route will run from one of the Ukrainian ports to Constanta in Romania and the Danube ports in Germany.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company and the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure announced the construction of the second SLG barge of large capacity and the preparation for the launch of barge container caravans on the Middle and Upper Danube.
After Russia pulled out of a UN-Turkey-backed deal last year to create a safe grain corridor in the Black Sea, the Danube has become a priority route for supplies from Ukraine.
At the same time, Ukraine also uses roads and railways, but exports through Poland are currently down to 300,000 tons per month instead of about 1 million tons in 2022, as road crossings are completely blocked.
"This is certainly not a threat to Polish farmers, as we transport not only agricultural goods, but also auto parts for German car manufacturers, processed products that are not sent to Poland. Blocking the border means billions in losses both for our economy and for the economies of the European Union." - added Kubrakov.