Ukraine Plans to Lease Out the Black Sea Port of Chornomorsk

Wedoany.com Report-May 11, Ukraine has announced a 40-year concession plan for the Chornomorsk port on the Black Sea, presented by government officials at an investment forum in Warsaw, Poland, in April 2025. The initiative focuses on modernizing and expanding the port’s infrastructure to enhance its role in global trade.

A bulker departs Chornomorsk, Ukraine, 2022

The concession involves two terminals—a container terminal and a multipurpose terminal—capable of handling up to 760,000 TEU and over 5 million tons of cargo annually. The auction for the concession is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, with the contract expected to be signed with the winning bidder in the fourth quarter of 2025. The project has been developed with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with tender documents outlining participation terms, risk structures, and state guarantees.

Andrii Kashuba, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, stated: “Despite ongoing military threats, the seaport sector has demonstrated exceptional resilience, maintaining significant cargo volumes. The concession of the container terminal in the port of Chornomorsk is an opportunity for investors to become part of the new logistics system in the Black Sea.” The plan aims to strengthen the port’s operational capacity and attract investment.

The concession aligns with Ukraine’s efforts to diversify cargo routes through the Black Sea corridor, launched in August 2023 as an alternative trade pathway. This corridor has facilitated the export of nearly 73 million tons of grain over the past two years, showcasing its reliability. The initiative also includes plans to enhance customs efficiency to support trade operations.

Chornomorsk, part of the Greater Odessa port network alongside Pivdennyi and Odessa, is a vital hub for Ukrainian trade. In the first quarter of 2025, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that the Greater Odessa ports handled 20.7 million tons of cargo out of a national total of 23 million tons. Specifically, Pivdennyi processed 10.6 million tons, Chornomorsk handled 6.6 million tons, and Odessa managed 3.5 million tons.

The Chornomorsk concession reflects Ukraine’s commitment to strengthening its maritime infrastructure, enhancing trade capacity, and fostering international partnerships to support economic resilience.