OREANDA-NEWS. June 19, 2009.  In January-May 2009, stevedoring companies operating in the ports of the Odessa region (Ukraine) handled 39.944 million tonnes of cargo (-6.9%, year-on-year). According to consolidated reporting, transshipment of export cargo increased by 27.9%, coastal trade cargo –2.2 times while transshipment of import and transit cargo fell by 59.6% and 18.5% respectively.

The decrease of the throughput was registered in the ports of Odessa, Illjichevsk, Izmail, Reni and other harbors which account for 90.3% of total turnover of Ukrainian ports.

In the reported period, cargo handling fell to 44.171 million tonnes due to the global financial crisis, economic recession and decline of international trade. In 2008, total throughput of all seaports of Odessa region increased by 8.9% to a record-breaking result of 101.4 million tonnes.