Situation at Ukraine ports January 2019 – 16.01.2019

Export season in Ukraine current still in it’s high peak – as fact all the usual issues for such period of time – railway junction stations/port terminals facing congestions, container lines vessels fully booked, empty cntrs often in shortage.

* waiting time for shipment cntrs from Odessa port can take up to 25-30 days waiting;
* average waiting time at junction stations while railway deliveries takes abt 3-5 days;
* carrier facing lack of prompt empty containers reposition – especially 20 are in shortage;
* main container lines already closed acceptance of cntrs for Jan sailing and February sailing already getting full rapidly;
* due to snow weather truck deliveries also facing spotely delays, while so far not lot of heavy snows among Ukraine – thus situation is not critical;

Taking into account above said we highly recommend our export customers who mainly ship containers via railway to start planning shipments much in advance to get in lines, arrange inland deliveries promptly. For import customers for railway deliveries – we highlighting that in case of delivery import via Odessa port long time waiting might be faced.