The information on changes in the geographical structure of Ukrainian Container Trades is very important for all markets, especially at the end of the year.
In this article Informall details the trade volumes for the Ukrainian market. The analysis is based on the ports of loading and ports of destination data, and excludes transshipment ports.
The general tendency for all Ukrainian container terminals – an increase in Far East and South East Asian trade, both in exports and imports.
Far East and South East Asian trade always dominates amongst all Ukrainian partners. This year, their share was 69% of all imports for Ukrainian container terminals.
The share of Far East and South East Asian trade varies for each container terminal. It is 84% in Ilyichevsk and 68% in Odessa, due to a larger share for other traders, in particular the second-largest, –the Mediterranean, including Turkey.
TIS, (Yuzhniy), had handled mostly South American trades, before starting to handle Far East and South East Asia trade as well. The opportunity to pass customs formalities without loading on transport unit attracts big importers, in particular the importers of household appliances.
The second-largest trading partner for Ukrainian imports is the Mediterranean, including Turkey, representing 13,38% of the total. The main cargo traffics are: home appliances, accumulators, building materials, household chemicals, textiles, fruits, vegetables, dry fruits, cosmetics, PVC and plastic production.
Trade from South America increased all over Ukraine, not only due to import cargo but also due to transit cargo. During the past three years this trade increased from 4% to 9,24%, becoming the third-largest partner by volume for Ukraine. And its share continues to increase.
The main cargo for South American trade is meat and fish products in refrigerated containers. Transit cargo is oriented towards Moldova and consists of meat products, mainly. Thus refrigerated container turnover increased by 24% in 2011, by 50% in 2012, and in 2013 the total increase is estimated to be 9% by the end of the year.
The other import and transit trades compose 4,65% in total turnover. The structure of Ukrainian import and transit container trade in 2013 is illustrated by the following table.
As for export/transit, the Far East and South East Asian destinations again dominate. They compose 64,98% of the total, which is 10% higher than in 2011. The main cargo to these destinations are different wooden materials, plywood, logs, agricultural production (wheat, rape seeds, sunflower oil) and chemical products as well.
Indian Subcontinent destination places second, with a market share of 14,42%. The main cargo to this destination is chemical and metal production.
Mediterranean trade, representing 11,55% of Ukrainian export and transit consists of wooden products, foodstuff and agricultural production.
The structure of export destinations from Ukraine is more or less similar for every terminal. In Odessa and Ilyichevsk all the trade takes similar shares and consists of the same cargo. At TIS container terminal, despite only ECUMED service from Maersk, all the trades similar to Odessa and Ilyichevsk were handled. And their volumes are increasing due to the stuffing capacity at the terminal.