Ukraine Grain 

Transportation

Published August 2022

Executive Summary

The 2022 Ukraine Grain Transportation report covers 2021 data trends as well as the current status of 

transportation following the 2022 Russian invasion. In recent years, the Black Sea region–Kazakhstan, 

Russia, and Ukraine–has emerged as a strong player in the global wheat and corn markets. Black Sea wheat 

successfully competes based on lower prices, favorable exchange rates, and the region’s advantageous 

location. Ports on the Black Sea have easy access to the rapidly growing markets in the Middle East and North 

Africa where wheat and feed demand has grown. The U.S. share of the global wheat market has been declining 

as the European Union (EU) and Russia have risen in prominence. In the corn market, the United States is still 

the leading exporter, but faces strong competition from Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine. U.S. corn prices are still 

competitive, but Black Sea prices are declining, and production is increasing.

Because of challenges obtaining specific data out of the entire Black Sea region, the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture publishes the annual Ukraine Grain Transportation report to evaluate grain transportation costs 

as an indicator for the entire Black Sea Region. The Ukraine Grain Transportation report analyzes the major 

changes and events in the total cost of shipping grain from Ukraine to major export markets, which also affect 

the overall competitiveness of the United States in serving global grain markets. The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) has published the Ukraine Grain Transportation report annually since 2020.

In 2021, Ukraine’s transportation costs more than doubled from 2020 due to larger wheat and soybean crops, 

higher truck operating costs, disrupted preparation of hoppers, and higher ocean rates. In 2021, more than 

95 percent of Ukrainian grain exports were shipped via the Black Sea ports, and rail handled 60 percent of 

domestic grain movements destined to ports for export.

In 2022, the crop harvest for all major grains and oilseeds is expected to decline by around 40 percent because 

of Russia’s occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine. The occupation has closed all traditional export routes, 

forcing the Ukrainian government and exporters to seek alternatives. In addition, Ukraine has two new laws 

that would increase Ukraine’s cost competitiveness in the world market: (1) “On Inland Water Transport” and 

(2) Multimodal transportation, which are discussed in the report.

Overview of Ukrainian Grain Transportation in 20211

In 2021, Ukraine exported 20.1 million metric tons (mmt) of wheat, nearly 11 percent more than 2020’s total 

of 18.1 mmt. Corn exports declined by 12 percent—from 27.9 mmt in 2020 to 24.7 mmt in 2021. The drop was 

mainly a result of 16 percent less harvested corn in 2020 than in 2019 (State Statistics Service of Ukraine).2

During the first 9 months of 2021, Ukraine exported about 60 percent of 2020’s grain harvest (Centre for 

Transport Strategies (CFTS)). The cost of shipping a metric ton (mt) of grain 100 miles by truck rose 11 percent, 

1 Andrii Shkliar (andrii.shkliar@cfts.org.ua), Andrey Isayev (andrey.isayev@cfts.org.ua), and Pavlo Rudenko (pavlo.rudenko@cfts.org.ua), 

gathered all of the Ukraine data in this report and ensured its accuracy.

2 Ukrainian grain, especially corn, is usually exported in the spring and summer of the calendar year after the year the grain was harvested, 

depending on market price and port capacity. Thus, 2021 corn export volumes reflected 2020’s low harvested volumes.
2

Ukraine Grain Transportation

from $11.92 per mt in 2020 to $13.23 per mt in 2021 (fig. 1a) (Zernovoz). The increase stemmed from two 

main reasons: first, larger wheat and soybean crops raised transportation demand, and second, truck rates 

rose with higher operating costs, including those for fuel and spare parts. 

From 2020 to 2021, rail rates rose in response to several factors: disrupted preparation of hoppers for the 2021 

harvest and significantly rising rental fees for private grain hoppers from July to December 2021. The private 

hopper rental fees increased from $3 per day in April 2021 to $59.70 per day in December 2021 (Promgruz).3

Ukrainian Railways increased the rent for grain hoppers from $4.10 per day in June 2021 to $69.80 per day 

in December 2021 (CFTS).4 From 2020 to 2021, market share of trucking rose from 28 percent to nearly 31 

percent, mostly at the expense of river transportation (which fell by 3.1 percent) (table 1a). Of the Ukrainian 

grain shipped to major export facilities in 2021, the largest share (60 percent) went by rail, followed by truck 

(31 percent), and barge (9 percent) (Ukranian Railways, Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities, and CFTS). In 2021, 

more than 95 percent of Ukrainian grain exports were shipped via the Black Sea ports (table 1.a) (Ukrainian 

Sea Ports Authorities, and CFTS).5 From the United States, the largest share of grain exports (47 percent) went 

by barge, followed by rail (38 percent), and finally truck (14 percent) (fig. 1b) (Chang et al., 2021).

3 Rental hopper prices (cited here and in the next paragraph) do not include the value-added tax.

4 The Ukrainian rail freight market is under Government control. The Government-held company, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), owns the 

rail infrastructure and provides services. Tariff rates are not published. Ukrainian Railways uses the former Soviet Union’s railway-tariff-setting 

model.

5 The Ukrainian Black Sea region includes the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhnyi, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Izmail, Reni, Ust-Dunaisk, Skadovsk, 

Olvia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. The region excludes the ports in occupied Crimea (Yevpatoriia, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosiia, and Yalta).

*Grain refers to wheat, corn, and soybeans. qtr. = quarter.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies, Kyiv, Ukraine; Zernovoz Kyiv, Ukraine; JIT+ Kyiv, Ukraine; and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Figure 1a. Ukrainian grain export truck cost index, 2020-21

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

1st qtr. 2nd qtr. 3rd qtr. 4th qtr.

U.S.$/metric ton/100miles

2020

2021

Average 2021: $13.23

Average 2020: $11.92
3

Ukraine Grain Transportation

From 2020 to 2021, both rising transport costs and farm prices raised landed costs for Ukrainian wheat and 

corn exported to Alexandria, Egypt; Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia; and Shanghai, China.6 As a share of total 

landed costs of wheat, transportation costs increased 2-19 percent for the route from Central Ukraine through 

the ports of Odesa and increased 2-22 percent through Mykolaiv to the same ports (tables 2a and 2b). Ocean 

freight rates rose for all routes—from Odesa and Mykolaiv to Alexandria, Egypt; Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia; 

and the southern ports of China. The rates rose in response to the global shortage of freight tonnage that 

occurred with the post-pandemic recovery of global trade.

Table 1a. Tonnages and modal shares for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports, 2018-21

Year & Type of 

Movement

Rail Barge* Truck

1,000 Tons Percent 1,000 Tons Percent 1,000 Tons Percent

2018 30,083 76% 3,700 9% 5,850 15%

2019 36,707 69% 5,650 11% 10,667 20%

2020 29,406 64% 4,030 9% 12,694 28%

2021 28,495 60% 4,300 9% 14,500 31%

* 2018-19 barge volumes included those for the Southern Bug River, and 2020-21 volumes include those for the Dnipro and Southern Bug 

Rivers.

Source: Ukranian Railways, Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities, and Centre for Transport Strategies.

Table 1b. Ukrainian grain exports by port, 2021

Black Sea Ports 1,000 Tons Percentage

Chornomorsk 14,484 30.6

Mykolaiv 12,282 26.0

Pivdennyi 9,643 20.4

Odesa 5,741 12.1

Olvia 2,450 5.2

Berdyansk* 1,408 3.0

Mariupol* 868 1.8

Kherson 359 0.8

Ust-Dunaisk 60 0.1

Total 47,295 100

Note: “Grain” refers to wheat, corn, barley, and oats—but not soybeans.

*The Azov ports include Berdyansk and Mariupol.

Source: Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations (FAO), from 2020 to 2021, average 

Ukrainian free-on-board (FOB) wheat prices for mills increased 22 percent, from $286.54 per mt to $361 per 

mt. Also, from 2020 to 2021, Ukrainian corn FOB prices increased 42 percent, from $193.10 per mt to $274.89 

per mt. Over the same period, Ukrainian average wheat farm prices increased 20 percent, from $227.60 per mt 

to $273.08 per mt (table 2a). Average farm prices for corn increased 39 percent, from $193.72 per mt in 2020 

to $270.12 per mt in 2021 (table 2b). 

6  Landed costs = total transportation costs + farm price.
4

Ukraine Grain Transportation

In 2021, Ukraine exported about 7.9 mmt of corn to China, 3 percent more than 2020’s total (7.7 mmt), 

accounting for 32 percent of Ukraine’s total exports (24.7 mmt). The next highest shares of Ukrainian corn 

exports (in declining order) went to Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ukraine 

exported 3.3 mmt of wheat to Egypt, accounting for 17 percent of Ukraine’s total exports (20.1 mmt). The 

next highest shares of Ukrainian wheat exports (in declining order) went to Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and 

Bangladesh.

Figure 1b. U.S. vs. Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by mode, 2021

*Because of rounding, the United States shares do not sum exactly to 100.

Source: USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service, 2021 Ukrainian Railways, and Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities, 2021.

Current Status

Infrastructure conditions after the Russian invasion. In 2022, the crop harvest for all major grains and 

oilseeds is expected to decline by around 40 percent as a result of Russia’s occupation of eastern and southern 

Ukraine—the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions (U.S. Department of Agriculture and CNN). Russia targeted 

critical civilian infrastructure, such as bridges, railways, power generation, gas supply and storage, food 

warehouses, roads, silos, and ports. Industrial-scale looting of farms’ grain stocks and machinery has occurred 

in the occupied regions (Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and Financial Times). Since late February to early June 

2022, Russia has seized between 400,000 and 500,000 tons of grain from occupied territories. Some Ukrainian 

farms have been hit by air strikes and artillery fire (Financial Times and CNN).

On July 22, 2022, under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia and Ukraine signed separate accords with the 

United Nations (UN) and Turkey to reopen Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. The agreements were able to release 

grain exports to help ease the international food crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition to 

grain, the deal to release exports covers grain-related products, including foodstuffs and fertilizers. Russia also 

signed a separate memorandum of understanding with the UN to facilitate the export of Russian fertilizer. On 

August 1, 2022, after Russia relaxed the Black Sea blockade, Ukraine’s first grain ship sailed carrying 26,000 

tons of corn destined to Tripoli, Lebanon (Financial Times).

Railways Highways Waterways

U.S.* 38% 14% 47%

Ukraine 60% 31% 9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

U.S.* Ukraine
5

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Alternative export routes to Black Sea Ports. Alternative routes may still be needed to export an estimated 

30-40 mmt of Ukrainian grain in 2022. This estimation is based on the 49.5 mmt of grain (including wheat, 

corn, barley, oats, and soybeans) exported via Ukrainian sea ports in 2021. Prior to the signing of the Black Sea 

Grain initiative, the Russian occupation had closed all traditional Ukrainian export routes, forcing the Ukrainian 

Government and exporters to seek alternatives. Ukraine lost access to four of its ports in the Black and Azov 

seas—Mariupol, Berdyansk, Kherson, and Skadovsk—which accounted for 5.6 percent of Ukraine’s total grain 

exports in 2021. Additionally, the other Black Sea ports in the Mykolaiv basin (Mykolaiv and Olvia) are also 

inaccessible. Under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, three ports—Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi—have 

now reopened, but alternative routes may still be required given ongoing uncertainties in the region.

Since the invasion, most of the cargo-flow from Ukraine has shipped to major export markets by rail to Poland’s 

Port of Gdansk or by barge to Romania’s Port of Constanta (AgriCensus Daily Report). According to Ukraine’s 

infrastructure minister, all the activities to export through the alternative routes will not cover even 20 percent 

of what Ukraine could do through the Black Sea ports. Russia has repeatedly bombed the alternative routes, 

including those leading to Romania by road or rail. From Romania, grain is loaded on barges that sail down the 

Danube and into the Black Sea (Financial Times).

Like shipping by sea, hauling grain by rail to western railroads presents its own challenges. Because the gauge, 

or gap between tracks, on Ukrainian railway lines is wider than that of its European neighbors, border crossings 

are laborious and time consuming: either cargo must be fully unloaded and reloaded on to a new train, or 

else each wagon must be transferred on to a different set of wheels (Financial Times). Although the cost of 

delivering Ukrainian grain has increased, shippers still need to offer a small discount to compete in the global 

market. Farmers absorb the cost of that discount (AgriCensus Daily Report and CFTS). 

The European Commission is finalizing a plan called EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes to facilitate land exports 

of Ukraine’s stocks of food to international markets and global supply chains. The plan’s short-term, major 

components include the following: 

• Adding freight rolling stock, vessels, and trucks; 

• Increasing capacity of transport networks and transshipment terminals; 

• Enhancing flexibility of customs operations and other inspections; 

• Storing goods in EU countries;

• Securing bilateral trade; and 

• Implementing technical and bureaucratic initiatives to expedite the shipping of some of Ukraine’s 

key exports: vegetable oils, corn, and wheat. (European Commission, European Sources Online

and Bloomberg).

In the medium to long-term time periods, the Commission will also work on establishing new infrastructure 

connections whenever the reconstruction of Ukraine is able to begin.

For Ukrainian grain, three key alternative routes considered so far are as follows: 

• Danube River transportation and roads toward the ports of the western Black Sea coast (ports of 

Romania and Bulgaria); 

• Rail transportation for the western border crossings to the EU ports of the Baltic, North, and 

Mediterranean Seas—despite the fact these will involve time-consuming maneuvers at the 

borders where track gauges change; 
6

Ukraine Grain Transportation

• Outer road transshipment from truck to barge to vessels at the estuary ports of Danube River 

(ports of Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaysk) or Constanta port in Romania (Financial Times and 

Interfax-Ukraine). As of May 4, 2022, more than 30,000 wagons were stuck at the borders with 

Romania, Moldova, and Poland. The average waiting time for border crossing is 19 days.

In general, each of the above mentioned alternative supply routes are affected by military actions and limited 

by the factors in table 1c. 

Table 1c. Alternative Ukrainian export route limitations

Factors Challenges 

Martial law and 

military actions

• Curfew stops of trucks in the middle of the country (checkpoints), as well as at 

transition points

• Seizure of trucks for military purposes

• Intentional air strikes against oil processing plants and petroleum warehouses, 

causing fuel deficits 

Infrastructure and fleet • Different standards of railway gauge in Ukraine and the European Union (EU) 

and the need for additional transshipment or wagon-buggy change

• Deficit of railway grain hoppers in the EU

• Low capacity of port infrastructure 

• Insufficient number of wagons and locomotives for transporting agricultural 

products

• Danube ports’ lack of barges

• Damage to railway infrastructure necessitating detours 

• Damaged and destroyed depos and wagon-repair facilities, which complicate 

maintenance and repair of the fleet

Procedures and rules • Prolonged customs clearance and inspection of goods at the border 

• Quotas limiting entry of trucks into EU countries 

• High environmental standards for trucks (Euro-5, Euro-6)

• Prolonged phytosanitary and veterinary inspection procedures in EU countries 

during transit of goods

Source: Prepared by Centre for Transport Strategies with data compiled from Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine, Ministry of Infrastructure of 

Ukraine, and Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia).

Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture states that 75 percent of throughput capacity over the western border is 

related to railways. According to Ukrainian Railways data, the western border has 13 railway border-crossing 

facilities: four with Poland, two with Hungary, two with Slovakia, two with Romania, and three with Moldova. 

Under good conditions, these facilities could potentially handle a throughput of 1.3 mmt of grain cargo per 

month. However, under recent conditions, according to Ukraine’s data, these facilities processed less than 

600,000 mt of grain in April—less than half of their potential capacity. 

Most of the shortfall reflects the limitations of European railways. Currently, the railways lack the operations 

and infrastructure needed to process more than the volumes of bulk cargo the railways handled in the past. 

More specifically, European carriers lack locomotives and wagons. Some haulages are overloaded, and not 

enough transshipment terminals on the borders are ready to reload from wider (1,520 milimiters (mm)-gauge) 

wagons onto narrower (1,435 mm-gauge) wagons. European ports have limited warehouse availability, channel 

depths, and terminal capacities. All of these logistical constraints have played a role in lowering Ukraine’s grain 

exports since Russia’s invasion. In June 2022, Ukraine exported only 1.79 mmt of grain—a sharp decline from 

the country’s 5 mmt monthly average in 2021.
7

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Nonetheless, several signs indicate alternative logistics are already beginning to fall into place. At the end 

of April, the first Panamax vessel was loaded with Ukrainian corn in the Port of Constanta. Likewise, at the 

beginning of May, a grain unit train completed the first rail delivery of grain to Austria. Additionally, Ukrainian 

Railways recently launched strategic cooperation projects with European partners: as part of a railway “Grain 

Bridge” project, German DB Cargo AG will replace maritime transport to ports blocked by Russia. The project 

will redirect from maritime to rail transport the deliveries of Ukrainian grain and other commodities to ports. It 

will also backhaul EU agricultural machinery to Ukraine (Railway Supply). Ukrainian Railways has also launched 

a partnership with Polish PKP.

Market Developments in Ukraine

“On Inland Water Transport” law (number 1054). Effective January 1, 2022, the “On Inland Water Transport” 

law (law 1054) provides for the creation of the State Fund for the Development of Inland Water Ways (IWW) 

to ensure the Dnipro River navigable locks are kept in good working order for transporting international cargo. 

Currently, more than 75 percent of the locks are deteriorated.

• The IWW are not subject to maritime regulations, such as International Security Management 

(ISM), The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), etc.

• New training and education in inland shipping will be conducted on three levels:

 Level 1: vocational for the operational nautical crew (boatman and helmsman)

 Level 2: college for assistant boatmasters (1st and 2nd officers)

 Level 3: academy for management (boatmaster/captain full license)

In accord with European Union (EU) Directives on professional qualifications, the educational 

programs will be changed to competency-based training. Furthermore, experience-level equivalents 

will be specified for nautical operational and management functions on board, special authorization 

for radar, waterways with maritime character, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and passenger transport/

river cruise. The new EU directive, including the certification process, has been introduced into 

Ukrainian national legislation and is pending government approval.

• Law 1054 provides for domestic shipbuilding incentives and the recovery of Ukrainian enterprises.

• The Inland Water Ways (IWW) freight market has been liberalized to allow river passage of vessels 

under a foreign flag, including cabotage.7

• Inland navigation vessels have been granted free passage through locks and partial exemption 

from taxes in seaports. According to law 1054, the use of IWW is free of charge for IWW vessels. 

Also, when in cabotage in the seaports, the IWW vessels with a draft of up to 4.5 meters do not 

pay administrative channel, tonnage, and sanitary fees. They also do not pay Dnipro channel fees 

when taking international routes. 

Law on multimodal transportation (law 4258). On November 11, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s 

unicameral parliament) approved law 4258 on multimodal transportation.8 Before then, there had been no 

official regulation of multimodal transportation. The main points of the law are as follows:

• The law introduces, in Ukraine, the legal structures needed to facilitate the seamless 

multimodal transportation of goods. The law will regulate multimodal terminals and multimodal 

transportation, as well as the relationship between multimodal operators and customers. 

Providing a basis for official documents, the law also defines the multimodal transportation 

7 Cabotage laws govern foreign maritime activity in domestic coastal trades.

8 Verkhovna Rada is or just called Rada, is the Ukranian unicameral parliament.
8

Ukraine Grain Transportation

agreement, its essential conditions, rights and obligations of its parties, and basic principles 

regarding this type of transportation.

• Use of a single transportation agreement is established among the participants of multimodal 

transportation governing all stages of transportation. As accepted by all parties, the agreement 

allows use of only one transportation contract document, regardless of changing modes of 

transport. 

• When providing a multimodal freight service, the multimodal freight operator must accept 

liability for the cargo from the moment the operator accepts the goods on the multimodal 

transport until the moment of delivery.

• To receive compensation for lost, damaged, or late cargo, the customer does not need to define 

at what stage of transport the damage, loss, or delay occurred or which carrier did not fulfill its 

obligation to deliver undamaged goods on time.

Labor market. As of July 2022 when this report was published, data on the number of employees in the 

agricultural sector for 2021 were not yet available. Yet because the country managed to reap a record harvest 

and road traffic increased from 2020 to 2021, it appears the sector did not suffer from a substantial worker 

shortage as it did in 2020. 

Although Russia’s war on Ukraine has led to a certain shortage of agricultural workers, industry sources 

indicate the shortage was not significant and did not affect the planting. Unfortunately, accurate data cannot 

be collected at this time.

For more information, contact Delmy L. Salin at delmy.salin@usda.gov. 
9

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 2a. Average costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

Indonesia, 2020-21

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2 Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt— % Change —US$/mt— % Change

2020 2021 2020-21 2020 2021 2020-21

Truck 6.37 7.09 11.3 6.37 7.09 11.3

Rail3 12.82 11.89 -7.2 9.63 8.89 -7.6

Ocean 11.92 25.88 117.1 13.71 28.63 108.8

Total transportation 31.11 44.86 44.2 29.71 44.61 50.1

Farm price4 227.60 273.08 20.0 227.60 273.08 20.0

Landed cost 258.72 317.94 22.9 257.31 317.69 23.5

Transport % of landed cost 12.1 14.0 15.6 11.6 14.0 20.1

To Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2 Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt— % Change —US$/mt— % Change

2020 2021 2020-21 2020 2021 2020-21

Truck 6.37 7.09 11.3 6.37 7.09 11.3

Rail3 12.82 11.89 -7.2 9.63 8.89 -7.6

Ocean 29.71 54.92 84.9 31.50 57.67 83.1

Total transportation 48.90 73.90 51.1 47.50 73.65 55.0

Farm price4 227.60 273.08 20.0 227.60 273.08 20.0

Landed cost 276.51 346.98 25.5 275.10 346.73 26.0

Transport % of landed cost 17.8 21.3 19.3 17.4 21.2 21.9

1

Central Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy provinces.

2

Export ports.

3

Rail rates include the cost of delivery to the railway station and the cost of renting a grain hopper. However, rail rates do not include the cost 

of moving and positioning rail cars at the elevator and port, railway station fees, security service from loading to discharging port, or freightforwarding service. (Any or all of these items could exceed the rail tariff rate.) Rail rates are estimated by using specialized software “TM-Karta” in 

accordance with Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) tariff regulation.

4

Farm price = elevator price − handling costs − farm-to-elevator transportation. 

Note: mt = metric ton.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
10

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 2b. Average costs of transporting Ukrainian corn from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

China, 2020-21

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2 Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt— % Change —US$/mt— % Change

2020 2021 2020-21 2020 2021 2020-21

Truck 6.37 7.09 11.3 6.37 7.09 11.3

Rail3 12.82 11.89 -7.2 9.63 8.89 -7.6

Ocean 11.92 25.88 117.1 13.71 28.63 108.8

Total transportation 31.11 44.86 44.2 29.71 44.61 50.1

Farm price4 193.72 270.12 39.4 193.72 270.12 39.4

Landed cost 224.83 314.98 40.1 223.43 314.72 40.9

Transport % of landed cost 14.0 14.3 1.7 13.5 14.2 5.4

To Shanghai, China

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2 Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt— % Change —US$/mt— % Change

2020 2021 2020-21 2020 2021 2020-21

Truck 6.37 7.09 11.3 6.37 7.09 11.3

Rail3 12.82 11.89 -7.2 9.63 8.89 -7.6

Ocean 29.25 50.96 74.2 32.00 53.71 67.8

Total transportation 48.45 69.94 44.4 48.00 69.69 45.2

Farm price4 193.72 270.12 39.4 193.72 270.12 39.4

Landed cost 242.16 340.06 40.4 241.72 339.81 40.6

Transport % of landed cost 20.3 20.6 1.6 20.1 20.5 2.2

1

Central Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy provinces.

2

Export ports.

3

Rail rates include the cost of delivery to the railway station and the cost of renting a grain hopper. However, rail rates do not include the cost 

of moving and positioning rail cars at the elevator and port, railway station fees, security service from loading to discharging port, or freightforwarding service. (Any or all of these items could exceed the rail tariff rate.) Rail rates are estimated by using specialized software “TM-Karta” in 

accordance with Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) tariff regulation.

4

Farm price = elevator price − handling costs − farm-to-elevator transportation. 

Note: mt = metric ton.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
11

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Figure 2. Routes1 and wheat, corn, and soybean regions considered in the Ukrainian grain 

export transportation indicator2

1

Table 5 on page 17 provides additional information for routes 1-6.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of wheat, corn, and soybean production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
12

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Figure 3. Routes1 and wheat regions considered in the Ukrainian grain 

export transportation indicator2

1

Table 5 on page 17 provides additional information for routes 1-6.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of wheat, corn, and soybean production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
13

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Figure 4. Routes1 and corn regions considered in the Ukrainian grain 

export transportation indicator2

1

Table 5 on page 17 provides additional information for routes 1-6.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of wheat, corn, and soybean production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
14

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Figure 5. Routes1 and soybean regions considered in the Ukrainian grain 

export transportation indicator2

1

Table 5 on page 17 provides additional information for routes 1-6.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of wheat, corn, and soybean production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
15

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 3. Quarterly costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

Indonesia, 2021

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

Truck 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09

Rail3 10.09 8.98 11.76 16.76 11.89 7.54 6.70 8.79 12.54 8.89

Ocean 19.50 21.50 31.50 31.00 25.88 21.67 24.17 35.00 33.67 28.63

Total transportation 35.72 37.12 49.97 56.63 44.86 35.33 37.52 50.50 55.08 44.61

Farm price4 279.55 240.32 263.81 308.63 273.08 279.55 240.32 263.81 308.63 273.08

Landed cost 315.27 277.44 313.78 365.27 317.94 314.88 277.83 314.31 363.72 317.69

Transport % of landed cost 11.3 13.4 15.9 15.5 14.0 11.2 13.5 16.1 15.1 14.0

To Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

Truck 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09

Rail3 10.09 8.98 11.76 16.76 11.89 7.54 6.70 8.79 12.54 8.89

Ocean 43.33 48.33 69.33 58.67 54.92 45.50 51.00 72.83 61.33 57.67

Total transportation 59.55 63.96 87.80 84.30 73.90 59.17 64.35 88.33 82.75 73.65

Farm price4 279.55 240.32 263.81 308.63 273.08 279.55 240.32 263.81 308.63 273.08

Landed cost 339.10 304.27 351.61 392.93 346.98 338.72 304.67 352.14 391.38 346.73

Transport % of landed cost 17.6 21.0 25.0 21.5 21.3 17.5 21.1 25.1 21.1 21.2

1

Central Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy provinces.

2

Export ports.

3

Rail rates include the cost of delivery to the railway station and the cost of renting a grain hopper. However, rail rates do not include the cost 

of moving and positioning rail cars at the elevator and port, railway station fees, security service from loading to discharging port, or freightforwarding service. (Any or all of these items could exceed the rail tariff rate.) Rail rates are estimated by using specialized software “TM-Karta” in 

accordance with Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) tariff regulation.

4

Farm price = elevator price − handling costs − farm-to-elevator transportation. 

Note: qtr = quarter. mt = metric ton.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
16

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 4. Quarterly costs of transporting Ukrainian corn from the Black Sea ports to 

Egypt and China, 2021

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

Truck 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09

Rail3 10.09 8.98 11.76 16.76 11.89 7.54 6.70 8.79 12.54 8.89

Ocean 19.50 21.50 31.50 31.00 25.88 21.67 24.17 35.00 33.67 28.63

Total transportation 35.72 37.12 49.97 56.63 44.86 35.33 37.52 50.50 55.08 44.61

Farm price4 276.68 290.51 250.97 262.30 270.12 276.68 290.51 250.97 262.30 270.12

Landed cost 312.40 327.64 300.93 318.93 314.98 312.01 328.03 301.47 317.38 314.72

Transport % of landed cost 11.4 11.3 16.6 17.8 14.3 11.3 11.4 16.8 17.4 14.2

To Shanghai, China

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

1st qtr. 

2021

2nd qtr. 

2021

3rd qtr. 

2021

4th qtr. 

2021

Average 

2021

Truck 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09 6.13 6.65 6.71 8.88 7.09

Rail3 10.09 8.98 11.76 16.76 11.89 7.54 6.70 8.79 12.54 8.89

Ocean 39.50 46.67 63.67 54.00 50.96 42.25 49.42 66.42 56.75 53.71

Total transportation 55.72 62.29 82.13 79.63 69.94 55.92 62.77 81.92 78.17 69.69

Farm price4 276.68 290.51 250.97 262.30 270.12 276.68 290.51 250.97 262.30 270.12

Landed cost 332.40 352.80 333.10 341.93 340.06 332.60 353.28 332.88 340.47 339.81

Transport % of landed cost 16.8 17.7 24.7 23.3 20.6 16.8 17.8 24.6 23.0 20.5

1

Central Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy provinces.

2

Export ports.

3

Rail rates include the cost of delivery to the railway station and the cost of renting a grain hopper. However, rail rates do not include the cost 

of moving and positioning rail cars at the elevator and port, railway station fees, security service from loading to discharging port, or freightforwarding service. (Any or all of these items could exceed the rail tariff rate.) Rail rates are estimated by using specialized software “TM-Karta” in 

accordance with Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) tariff regulation.

4

Farm price = elevator price − handling costs − farm-to-elevator transportation. 

Note: qtr = quarter. mt = metric ton.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
17

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 5. Quarterly rail rates for selected Ukrainian grain and soybean 

export transportation routes, 2021

Route 

#

Origin 

(reference city)1 Destination Distance (miles)

Share 

(%)2

Freight price (US$/mt/100 miles)3

1st qtr 2nd qtr 3rd qtr 4th qtr Avg

1

Western Ukraine 

(Khmelnitskii, station 

Starokonstantinov 1)

Mykolaiv 501 

29.7

2.81 2.48 3.30 4.78 3.34

2

Western Ukraine 

(Khmelnitskii, station 

Starokonstantinov 1)

Odesa 343 2.94 2.62 3.43 4.89 3.47

3 Eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv, 

station Lihachevo) Mykolaiv 340 

18.8

2.97 2.64 3.46 4.93 3.50

4 Eastern Ukraine (Kharkiv, 

station Lihachevo) Odesa 521 2.81 2.49 3.20 4.59 3.27

5

Central Ukraine 

(Cherkasy, station 

Zolotonosha 1)

Mykolaiv 240 

51.5

3.14 2.79 3.66 5.23 3.71

6

Central Ukraine 

(Cherkasy, station 

Zolotonosha 1)

Odesa 341 2.96 2.63 3.45 4.91 3.49

1

Although each origin region comprises several cities, the major station at the center of each region is considered as a reference to establish the freight 

price. Western Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnitskii, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, 

and Zhytomyr provinces. Eastern Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia provinces. 

Central Ukraine producing regions are as follows = Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy provinces. 

2

Share is measured as a percentage of total production and illustrates the production in the region.

3

Rail rates include the cost of delivery to the railway station and the cost of renting a grain hopper. However, rail rates do not include the cost of 

moving and positioning rail cars at the elevator and port, railway station fees, security service from loading to discharging port, or freight-forwarding 

service. (Any or all of these items could exceed the rail tariff rate.) Rail rates are estimated by using specialized software “TM-Karta” in accordance with 

Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) tariff regulation.

Average monthly exchange rate from the National Bank of Ukraine was used to convert Ukrainian Hryvnia to U.S. dollars.

Note: qtr = quarter. mt = metric ton. Avg = average.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
18

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 6. Monthly Ukrainian grain and oilseeds export truck transportation cost index

Month Freight price 

(US$/mt/100 miles)

Index variation (%) 

(Base: prior month)

Index value 

(Base: Jan. 05 = 100)

Jan-19 18.65 0.0 100.00

Feb-19 19.15 2.6 102.65

Mar-19 16.75 -12.5 89.81

Apr-19 14.92 -10.9 79.99

May-19 15.16 1.6 81.30

Jun-19 15.09 -0.5 80.93

Jul-19 15.53 2.9 83.28

Aug-19 15.84 2.0 84.94

Sep-19 16.15 1.9 86.58

Oct-19 16.12 -0.2 86.45

Nov-19 18.47 14.5 99.01

Dec-19 17.80 -3.6 95.42

Jan-20 17.41 -2.2 93.36

Feb-20 15.94 -8.5 85.45

Mar-20 16.43 3.1 88.10

Apr-20 13.58 -17.4 72.79

May-20 13.57 0.0 72.78

Jun-20 13.31 -1.9 71.39

Jul-20 10.74 -19.3 57.58

Aug-20 7.63 -29.0 40.91

Sep-20 9.87 29.4 52.92

Oct-20 7.77 -21.3 41.66

Nov-20 8.14 4.8 43.64

Dec-20 8.70 6.9 46.64

Jan-21 6.22 -28.5 33.35

Feb-21 6.99 12.4 37.48

Mar-21 9.90 41.6 53.08

Apr-21 8.70 -12.1 46.64

May-21 7.41 -14.8 39.73

Jun-21 11.47 54.8 61.50

Jul-21 13.84 20.7 74.22

Aug-21 14.91 7.7 79.92

Sep-21 18.67 25.3 100.12

Oct-21 20.94 12.1 112.26

Nov-21 22.83 9.0 122.40

Dec-21 16.87 -26.1 90.44

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
19

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 7. Quarterly ocean freight rates for shipping grain and soybeans from selected 

Ukrainian ports (US$/metric ton)

Cargo Port Destination 1st qtr 

2020

2nd qtr 

2020

3rd qtr 

2020

4th qtr 

2020

Wheat Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17

Wheat Mykolaiv Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 32.42 25.25 34.75 33.58

Wheat Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42

Wheat Odesa Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 30.67 23.50 32.83 31.83

Corn Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17

Corn Mykolaiv Southern ports, China2 31.92 27.58 34.25 34.25

Corn Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42

Corn Odesa Southern ports, China3 29.17 24.83 31.50 31.50

Soybeans Mykolaiv Southern ports, China3 30.92 26.58 33.25 33.25

Soybeans Odesa Southern ports, China3 29.17 24.83 31.50 31.50

Cargo Port Destination 1st qtr 

2021

2nd qtr 

2021

3rd qtr 

2021

4th qtr 

2021

Wheat Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17

Wheat Mykolaiv Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 32.42 25.25 34.75 33.58

Wheat Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42

Wheat Odesa Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 30.67 23.50 32.83 31.83

Corn Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17

Corn Mykolaiv Southern ports, China2 31.92 27.58 34.25 34.25

Corn Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42

Corn Odesa Southern ports, China3 29.17 24.83 31.50 31.50

Soybeans Mykolaiv Southern ports, China3 30.92 26.58 33.25 33.25

Soybeans Odesa Southern ports, China3 29.17 24.83 31.50 31.50

1

Vessel size = 25,000-30,000 metric ton.

2

Vessel size = 50,000-55,000 metric ton.

3

Vessel size = 60,000-70,000 metric ton.

Note: China’s main southern ports include Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, and Guangdong. na = not available.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
20

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Delmy L. Salin

Senior Economist, Project Manager

delmy.salin@usda.gov

202.720.0833

Jessica Ladd

Graphic Analyst

jessica.ladd@usda.gov

202.720.6494

Data Sets (XLS files):

• Figure 1a. Ukrainian grain export truck cost index, 2020-21

• Figure 1b. U.S. vs. Urkrainian grain and oilseed exports by mode, 2021

• Table 1a. Tonnages and modal shares for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports, 2018-21

• Table 1b. Ukrainian grain exports by port, 2021

• Table 2a. Average costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

Indonesia, 2020-21

• Table 2b. Average costs of transporting Ukrainian corn from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

China, 2020-21

• Table 3. Quarterly costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

Indonesia, 2021

• Table 4. Quarterly costs of transporting Ukrainian corn from the Black Sea ports to Egypt and 

China, 2021

• Table 5. Quarterly rail rates for selected Ukrainian grain and soybean export transportation routes, 

2021

• Table 6. Monthly Ukrainian grain and oilseeds export truck transportation cost index

• Table 7. Quarterly ocean freight rates for shipping grain and soybeans from selected Ukrainian 

ports (US$/metric ton)

Preferred Citation:

Delmy Salin. August 2022. Ukraine Grain Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural 

Marketing Service. Web <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS260.08-2022>

Photo Credit: USDA

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Acknowledgments:

For data, regional information, and maps of Ukraine, the author would like to thank the Centre for Transport 

Strategies in Kyiv, Ukraine. The author is, also, grateful for comments and critiques by USDA’s Office of the 

Chief Economist, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in Washington, DC, and the Office of Agricultural Affairs 

in Kyiv, Ukraine. Thanks, also, to USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service employees Maria Williams, editor, and 

Jessica Ladd, graphic designer.

Contact Information: