Cargo ship traffic in the Black Sea has decreased by 37 percent

Shipping activity in the Black Sea has declined by 37 percent compared to last year. The main reason for the decline was an increase in attacks on merchant ships and port infrastructure.

This was reportedby Lloyd’s List. 

According to the analytical publication, in October 2026, 1,370 cargo ships with a deadweight of over 1,000 metric tons were operating in the region’s waters. By comparison, as recently as March of this year, that figure stood at 2,091 vessels, after which shipping activity declined steadily each month.

The sharpest decline was recorded starting in August, when the monthly number of vessels decreased by more than 10%. Traffic of container ships and bulk carriers has declined particularly sharply—since June, their presence in the Black Sea has nearly halved.

Analysts note that shipowners are increasingly reassessing the risks of operating in the region due to the threat of shelling. Newer and more expensive vessels are more likely to avoid dangerous routes, and the threat to commercial shipping is gradually spreading to waters near the borders of NATO countries.

Because sailing in the Black Sea has become dangerous, it now costs more to insure a ship on high-risk voyages. The cost of insurance can reach one-fifth of the ship’s value.

Юлія Калабайда