Ukrainian exports are under threat due to attacks on Odesa ports

The destruction of ports and oil mills in Pivdenne, Chornomorsk and Dnipro has significantly reduced sunflower oil exports from Ukraine. This has already affected foreign exchange earnings and poses risks to the agricultural sector and the profitability of the next harvest.

This was reported by LIGA.net.

After a series of missile strikes by Russian troops, the Ukrainian oilseed infrastructure has suffered significant damage. In December, the port tanks of Allseeds in Pivdenne and the Kernel oil mill in the port of Chornomorsk were destroyed. On January 5, the Bunge oil mill in Dnipro, known for producing Oleina oil, came under fire, and on January 7, rockets hit facilities in Pivdenne and Chornomorsk.

Despite expectations of a sharp rise in sunflower oil prices due to the damaged facilities, the price of oil even fell slightly in the first ten days of January, the Finance Ministry reports. Experts attributed this unusual market reaction to several factors, the main one being the actual cessation of exports through seaports.

The only alternative is road tankers, but their volumes and transportation costs are much lower than sea transportation. Thus, in the first days of January 2026, only 1,350 tons of oil were exported by road, while one vessel can transport 12-15 thousand tons.

The destruction of port infrastructure has also led to a decrease in foreign exchange earnings. Oil and food account for up to 15% of foreign exchange earnings from trade, said Stepan Kapshuk, CEO of the Ukroliyaprom association. According to him, this creates additional exchange rate risks for the hryvnia due to the deterioration of the trade balance.

In the agricultural sector, the consequences are also tangible: the lack of a market for oil may reduce the purchase of sunflower, rapeseed and soybean seeds by processors. As a result, Ukrainian farmers will have to look for alternative solutions for spring sowing, which calls into question the industry's crop planning and profitability.

On January 12, an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle hit a Panamanian-flagged tanker waiting to enter a port to load vegetable oil near the coast of Odesa region. In addition, a San Marino-flagged vessel leaving the port with a cargo of corn was also damaged in the attack.

Анна Бальчінос