ice Agricultural Marketing Service

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Ukraine Grain 

Transportation

Published April 2021

Low crop supplies and flagging exports reduced demand for Ukrainian grain-export transportation.1 In 2020, 

Ukraine exported 18.1 million metric tons (mmt) of wheat, nearly 10 percent less than 2019’s total of 20 mmt. 

Corn exports also declined by 14 percent, from 32.3 mmt in 2019 to 27.9 mmt in 2020 (State statistics service 

of Ukraine). The cost of shipping a metric ton (mt) of grain 100 miles by truck decreased from $16.64 per mt 

in 2019 to $11.92 per mt in 2020 (table 6) (Zernovoz). This 28-percent drop was mostly due to a decrease in 

fuel prices and excess supply of trucks. The excess truck supply was due to Ukrainian drivers returning from the 

European Union (EU) because of COVID-19 lockdowns (Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS)). 

Rail rates also declined in response to the increased truck competition. Private grain hoppers’ rents fell 

from $62 per day (without value-added tax (VAT)) in November 2019 to $8 per day (no VAT) in May 2020 

(Promgruz). Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) also lowered grain hoppers rent rates, but did so later than private companies.2

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

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

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

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

*Grain refers to wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Note: Truck data collected from Zernovoz and JIT+, Kiev, Ukraine.

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

Figure 1. Ukrainian grain* export truck cost index, 2019-2020

0.00

4.00

8.00

12.00

16.00

20.00

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

US$/metric ton/100 miles

2019 2020

Average 2019: $16.64

Average 2020: $11.92
2

Ukraine Grain Transportation

In August 2020, UZ lowered the rent for grain hoppers from $41 per day (without VAT) to $23 per day (without 

VAT) in October 2020 (CFTS). From 2019 to 2020, truck’s market share rose from 26 percent to nearly 28 

percent, mostly at the expense of barge shipments (which fell 2 percent) and a slight drop in rail shipments 

(Ukrzaliznitsya, Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities, and CFTS). In 2020, lower transportation costs and higher 

farm prices led to lower landed costs for Ukrainian wheat and corn to Alexandria, Egypt, Ciwandan/Cigading, 

Indonesia, and Shanghai, China.3 As a share of total landed costs, the transportation costs decreased 30-33 

percent for the route from Central Ukraine through the ports of Odesa and decreased 31-35 percent from 

Mykolaiv through the same ports (tables 1 and 2). 

From Odesa and Mykolaiv to Alexandria, Egypt; Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia; and the Southern ports, 

China—ocean freight rates declined partly as a result of the pandemic’s widening global impacts. Among these 

impacts were restrictions in South Asia discouraging shipyards from scrapping. The reduced demolition of older 

ships increased the vessel supply and further softened rates (Grain Transportation Report, January 21, 2021).

Higher Chinese wheat and corn demand, and smaller crops raised grain prices (FAS, Grain: World Markets 

and Trade). According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations (FAO), from 2019 to 2020, 

average Black Sea wheat export prices increased nearly 7 percent for mill and 10 percent for feed—to $225.98 

per mt for mill and to $218.50 per mt for feed. Also, from 2019 to 2020, Black Sea corn export prices increased 

8 percent from $173.05 per mt to $188.58 per mt. In 2020, Ukrainian average wheat farm prices increased 33 

percent from $184.26 per mt to $245.85 per mt (table 1). Corn average farm prices increased nearly 42 percent 

from $150.68 per mt to $213.22 per mt (table 2). 

In 2020, Ukraine exported about 8 mmt of corn to China, 81 percent more than 2019’s total (4 mmt), 

accounting for 27 percent of Ukraine’s total exports (28 mmt). The next highest shares of Ukraine’s corn 

exports (in declining order) went to the Netherlands, Egypt, Spain, and Turkey. Ukraine exported 3 mmt of 

wheat to Egypt, accounting for 17 percent of Ukraine’s total exports (18.1 mmt). The next highest shares of 

Ukraine’s wheat exports (in declining order) went to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Of the Ukrainian grain shipped to major export facilities in 2020, the largest share (64 percent) went by rail, 

followed by the truck share (28 percent) and barge share (8 percent) (Ukrzaliznitsya, Ukrainian Sea Ports 

Authorities, and CFTS). In contrast, in the United States in 2016, barges shipped 54 percent of total soybean 

exports to major export facilities; rail shipped 30 percent; and trucks shipped 16 percent (USDA/AMS). In 2020, 

more than 95 percent of Ukrainian grain exports were via the Black Sea ports (Ukrainian Sea Ports Authorities

and CFTS).4

Ukraine Land Reform (Update)

According to the World Bank Group, Ukraine land reform—lifting the moratorium on agricultural land sales—is 

the most powerful measure the Government can take to boost economic growth and job creation, particularly 

in rural areas. More than 70 percent—some 106 million acres (43 million hectares (ha))—of Ukrainian territory 

is classified as agricultural land. Ukrainian land is exceptionally fertile and accounts for one-third of the world’s 

black soil.5 On April 28, 2020, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signed the bill on the agricultural 

land market into law 2178-10. The new law will allow full ownership of land shares and opens up opportunities 

for the use of land as collateral for loans (CFTS).

3 Landed costs = total transportation costs + farm price.

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

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

5 The chernozem black soil of central Ukraine is highly fertile and rich in organic matter content called humus.
3

Ukraine Grain Transportation

• From July 1, 2021, to January 1, 2024, Ukrainian citizens can acquire agricultural land. However, 

the total accumulated area of land that one person can own is limited to 247 acres (100 ha).

• Payment transactions for acquiring agricultural land can be performed only in cashless form, and 

purchasers must prove the source of their money or other assets transferred as a condition of 

purchase. 

• Currently, it appears that foreign individuals and foreign legal entities (including Ukrainian legal 

entities with some foreign shareholders) will be prohibited from acquiring agricultural land. A 

Ukraine-wide referendum (date not yet determined) could somewhat change this prohibition. 

However, regardless of the referendum results, the prohibition will continue to extend to legal 

entities with foreign shareholders or beneficiaries from countries that are recognized aggressors 

or an occupant of Ukrainian territories. 

• In addition, regardless of any referendum results, the prohibited parties will not be permitted to 

acquire state or municipal agricultural land, agricultural land from holders of land shares, or land 

within 31.1 miles (50 kilometers) of the country’s border. 

• Beginning January 1, 2024, qualifying Ukrainian legal entities will be able to acquire agricultural 

land. Banks that took possession of agricultural land by foreclosing on land mortgages will not 

qualify. 

• Beginning January 1, 2024, the maximum area of agricultural land in ownership for an individual 

or a legal entity cannot exceed 24,711 acres (10,000 ha).

For more information, contact Delmy L. Salin at delmy.salin@usda.gov. 
4

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

export transportation indicator2

1

Table defining routes by number is shown on page 12.

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.
5

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

export transportation indicator2

1

Table defining routes by number is shown on page 12.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of wheat production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
6

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

export transportation indicator2

1

Table defining routes by number is shown on page 12.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of corn production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
7

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

export transportation indicator2

1

Table defining routes by number is shown on page 12.

2

Regions comprised roughly 100 percent of soybean production, 2019.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
8

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 1. Average semiannual costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to 

Egypt and Indonesia, July-December of both 2019 and 2020

2nd half 

2019

2nd half 

2020

% change 

2019-2020

2nd half 

2019

2nd half 

2020

% change 

2019-2020

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.11 5.28 -34.9 8.11 5.28 -34.9

Rail3 14.51 11.72 -19.3 10.89 8.81 -19.1

Ocean 14.33 13.75 -4.1 16.08 15.58 -3.1

Total transportation 36.96 30.75 -16.8 35.08 29.67 -15.4

Farm price4 184.26 245.85 33.4 184.26 245.85 33.4

Landed cost 221.22 276.60 25.0 219.34 275.52 25.6

Transport % of landed cost 16.70 11.2 -32.8 15.99 10.9 -32.0

To Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.11 5.28 -34.9 8.11 5.28 -34.9

Rail3 14.51 11.72 -19.3 10.89 8.81 -19.1

Ocean 36.00 32.33 -10.2 37.75 34.17 -9.5

Total transportation 58.62 49.33 -15.8 56.75 48.26 -15.0

Farm price4 184.26 245.85 33.4 184.26 245.85 33.4

Landed cost 242.88 295.19 21.5 241.01 294.11 22.0

Transport % of landed cost 24.1 16.9 -30.1 23.55 16.6 -29.7

1

Central Ukraine producing region = 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 Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) tariff regulation.

4

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

Note: 2nd half = July-December. mt = metric ton.

Source: Centre for Transport Strategies (CFTS) Kyiv, Ukraine, and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.
9

Ukraine Grain Transportation

Table 2. Average semiannual costs of transporting Ukrainian corn from the Black Sea ports to 

Egypt and China, July-December of both 2019 and 2020

2nd half 

2019

2nd half 

2020

% change 

2019-2020

2nd half 

2019

2nd half 

2020

% change 

2019-2020

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.11 5.28 -34.9 8.11 5.28 -34.9

Rail3 14.51 11.72 -19.3 10.89 8.81 -19.1

Ocean 14.33 13.75 -4.1 16.08 15.58 -3.1

Total transportation 36.96 30.75 -16.8 35.08 29.67 -15.4

Farm price4 150.68 213.22 41.5 150.68 213.22 41.5

Landed cost 187.64 243.97 30.0 185.77 242.89 30.8

Transport % of landed cost 19.72 12.8 -35.1 18.91 12.4 -34.4

To Shanghai, China

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.11 5.28 -34.9 8.11 5.28 -34.9

Rail3 14.51 11.72 -19.3 10.89 8.81 -19.1

Ocean 34.42 31.50 -8.5 37.17 34.25 -7.8

Total transportation 57.04 48.50 -15.0 56.17 48.34 -13.9

Farm price4 150.68 213.22 41.5 150.68 213.22 41.5

Landed cost 207.72 261.72 26.0 206.85 261.56 26.5

Transport % of landed cost 27.48 18.8 -31.6 27.17 18.7 -31.0

1

Central Ukraine producing region = 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 Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) tariff regulation.

4

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

Note: 2nd half = July-December. mt = metric ton.

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

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

Indonesia, 2020

1st qtr 

2020

2nd qtr. 

2020

3rd qtr. 

2020

4th qtr. 

2020

Average 

2020

1st qtr 

2020

2nd qtr. 

2020

3rd qtr. 

2020

4th qtr. 

2020

Average 

2020

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37

Rail3 14.39 13.47 12.66 10.78 12.82 10.80 10.10 9.50 8.11 9.63

Ocean 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42 11.92 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17 13.71

Total transportation 33.96 28.99 31.09 30.41 31.11 32.11 27.38 29.86 29.49 29.71

Farm price4 212.06 206.65 220.07 271.64 227.60 212.06 206.65 220.07 271.64 227.60

Landed cost 246.01 235.65 251.16 302.04 258.72 244.17 234.03 249.92 301.12 257.31

Transport % of landed cost 13.8 12.3 12.4 10.1 12.1 13.2 11.7 11.9 9.8 11.6

To Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37

Rail3 14.39 13.47 12.66 10.78 12.82 10.80 10.10 9.50 8.11 9.63

Ocean 30.67 23.50 32.83 31.83 29.71 32.42 25.25 34.75 33.58 31.50

Total transportation 53.29 43.66 50.84 47.83 48.90 51.45 42.05 49.61 46.90 47.50

Farm price4 212.06 206.65 220.07 271.64 227.60 212.06 206.65 220.07 271.64 227.60

Landed cost 265.34 250.32 270.91 319.46 276.51 263.50 248.70 269.67 318.54 275.10

Transport % of landed cost 20.1 17.4 18.8 15.0 17.8 19.5 16.9 18.4 14.7 17.4

1

Central Ukraine producing region = 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 Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) 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.
11

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

China, 2020

1st qtr 

2020

2nd qtr. 

2020

3rd qtr. 

2020

4th qtr. 

2020

Average 

2020

1st qtr 

2020

2nd qtr. 

2020

3rd qtr. 

2020

4th qtr. 

2020

Average 

2020

To Alexandria, Egypt

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37

Rail3 14.39 13.47 12.66 10.78 12.82 10.80 10.10 9.50 8.11 9.63

Ocean 11.33 8.83 13.08 14.42 11.92 13.08 10.58 15.00 16.17 13.71

Total transportation 33.96 28.99 31.09 30.41 31.11 32.11 27.38 29.86 29.49 29.71

Farm price4 175.45 172.97 183.58 242.86 193.72 175.45 172.97 183.58 242.86 193.72

Landed cost 209.41 201.96 214.67 273.27 224.83 207.57 200.35 213.44 272.35 223.43

Transport % of landed cost 16.2 14.4 14.5 11.1 14.0 15.5 13.7 14.0 10.8 13.5

To Shanghai, China

Central Ukraine1 - Odesa2

—US$/mt— 

Central Ukraine1 - Mykolaiv2

—US$/mt—

Truck 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37 8.23 6.69 5.35 5.21 6.37

Rail3 14.39 13.47 12.66 10.78 12.82 10.80 10.10 9.50 8.11 9.63

Ocean 29.17 24.83 31.50 31.50 29.25 31.92 27.58 34.25 34.25 32.00

Total transportation 51.79 44.99 49.51 47.49 48.45 50.95 44.38 49.11 47.57 48.00

Farm price4 175.45 172.97 183.58 242.86 193.72 175.45 172.97 183.58 242.86 193.72

Landed cost 227.24 217.96 233.09 290.36 242.16 226.40 217.35 232.69 290.43 241.72

Transport % of landed cost 22.8 20.6 21.2 16.4 20.3 22.5 20.4 21.1 16.4 20.1

1

Central Ukraine producing region = 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 Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) 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.
12

Ukraine Grain Transportation

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

export transportation routes, 2020

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 Starokonstantinov1) Mykolaiv 501 

29.7

3.94 3.68 3.46 2.95 3.51

2 Western Ukraine 

(Khmelnitskii, station Starokonstantinov1) Odesa 343 4.19 3.93 3.70 3.16 3.75

3 Eastern Ukraine 

(Kharkiv, station Lihachevo) Mykolaiv 340 

18.8

4.23 3.96 3.72 3.17 3.77

4 Eastern Ukraine 

(Kharkiv, station Lihachevo) Odesa 521 3.81 3.56 3.41 3.01 3.45

5 Central Ukraine 

(Cherkasy, station Zolotonosha1) Mykolaiv 240 

51.5

4.50 4.21 3.96 3.38 4.01

6 Central Ukraine 

(Cherkasy, station Zolotonosha1) Odesa 341 4.22 3.95 3.71 3.16 3.76

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 region = Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnitskii, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zakarpattia, 

and Zhytomyr provinces. Eastern Ukraine producing region = Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia provinces. Central 

Ukraine producing region = 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 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 Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) 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.
13

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

Note: Truck data collected from Zernovoz and JIT+, Kiev, Ukraine.

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

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 

2019

2nd qtr 

2019

3rd qtr 

2019

4th qtr 

2019

Wheat Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 --na-- --na-- 16.33 15.83

Wheat Mykolaiv Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 --na-- --na-- 39.92 35.58

Wheat Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 --na-- --na-- 14.58 14.08

Wheat Odesa Ciwandan/Cigading, Indonesia2 --na-- --na-- 38.17 33.83

Corn Mykolaiv Alexandria, Egypt1 --na-- --na-- 16.33 15.83

Corn Mykolaiv Southern ports, China2 --na-- --na-- 38.08 36.25

Corn Odesa Alexandria, Egypt1 --na-- --na-- 14.58 14.08

Corn Odesa Southern ports, China3 --na-- --na-- 35.33 33.50

Soybeans Mykolaiv Southern ports, China3 --na-- --na-- 37.08 35.25

Soybeans Odesa Southern ports, China3 --na-- --na-- 35.33 33.50

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

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.
15

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 1. Ukrainian grain export truck cost index, 2019-2020

• Table 1. Average semiannual costs of transporting Ukrainian wheat from the Black Sea ports to

Egypt and Indonesia, July-December of both 2019 and 2020

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

Egypt and China, July-December of both 2019 and 2020

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

Indonesia, 2020

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

China, 2020

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

2020

• 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. April 2021. Ukraine Grain Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. Web <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS260.04-2021>

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 

Kiev, Ukraine. Thanks, also, to USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service employees Maria Williams, editor, Kranti 

Mulik, economist, and Jessica Ladd, graphic designer.

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