We are pleased to announce the beginning of an important partnership with the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP), a state-owned enterprise. The contract’s terms provide for the use of a convoy of the UDP fleet to transport Ukrainian grain from Izmail to the Romanian port of Constanta.

Currently, the first barges are being loaded with grain from Ukrainian farmers at Bessarabska branch in Izmail. They will soon set off on their first voyage to Constanta with a self-propelled fleet.

Commenting on the importance of this cooperation for business, the agricultural sector, and the country as a whole, Serhii Kalkutin, NIBULON’s Director of Logistics, noted the following:

“After February 24, 2022, due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, the operation of inland waterways intended for the transportation of agricultural products, which NIBULON had been focusing on, was blocked. Even under these conditions, we have managed to find a swift solution and renew the operation of our fleet and terminals, shifting our focus to transport via the Danube through the newly built Bessarabska branch.

Today, Ukraine risks losing this alternative grain export channel for Ukrainian agricultural producers; with the opening of the ports of Big Odesa, the cost of transportation on the Izmail – Constanta route is on average $8–10 more per ton.

At the same time, given that Mykolaiv, a competitive grain transshipment market, is blocked, it is not worth relying solely on the exports through the ports of Big Odesa, as the situation in the Black Sea can change rapidly.

That’s why it is crucial for Ukraine to preserve the alternative transportation route from Izmail to Constanta. At NIBULON, we strive to diversify risks, improve work efficiency, and ensure stable transportation of grain grown by our agricultural producers to global markets. We are confident that the cooperation between NIBULON and UDP will contribute to this goal. After all, the issue of grain exports is a matter of national economic security and global food security.”