Scientific Bulletin of Mukachevo State University. Series “Economics”

Vol. 13, No. 2, 2026 25.05.2026 open access Open access

Export challenges caused by blockade of ports and shift to overland and alternative routes

Rostyslav Osadchuk

DOI https://doi.org/10.52566/msu-econ2.2026.114 Pages 114 –121 Views 3 Views

Abstract

This article investigated the challenges facing Ukrainian exports due to the blockade of seaports under martial law, and substantiated the main directions for redirecting logistics flows towards overland, river, and multimodal routes. The study was based on a systems approach, comparative analysis, statistical generalisation, structural and logical analysis, and economic interpretation. Information sources included statistical data from Ukraine's State Statistics Service, materials published by government authorities, analytical reports by international organisations, and academic studies on transport logistics, foreign trade, and Ukraine's export infrastructure in wartime. The impact of the port blockade on Ukraine's export logistics was analysed, and the role of alternative transport routes in maintaining the resilience of foreign trade was identified. The study provided a comprehensive evaluation of how Ukraine’s export logistics had changed as a result of the seaport blockade between 2021 and 2025. The share of maritime transport in export logistics was found to have declined from 72% in 2021 to 38% in 2023, a decrease of 34 percentage points. Conversely, the share of rail transport increased from 15% to 31%, while the share of Danube ports rose from 5% to 18%. Additionally, the share of road transport increased from 8% to 13%. Redirecting export flows enabled Ukraine to maintain some of its foreign trade. However, a substantial increase in logistics costs was also observed: the cost of rail transport was found to have risen by 25-30%, road transport by 30-40%, and river transport via the Danube by 15-20%. Alternative logistics routes were found to be viable for sustaining exports of agricultural products, mining and metallurgical products, and raw materials. Nevertheless, the capacity of these routes has not yet been sufficient to compensate for pre-war maritime transport volumes fully. The practical significance of the findings lies in the formulation of recommendations regarding the development of multimodal transport, the modernisation of border infrastructure, the expansion of capacity at Danube ports, the integration of the Ukrainian transport system into the TEN-T network, and the enhancement of the resilience of the national export logistics system in the face of wartime and post-war risks

Keywords

transport logistics; multimodal transport; Danube ports; rail transport; foreign trade

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Suggested citation

Osadchuk, R. (2026). Export challenges caused by blockade of ports and shift to overland and alternative routes. Scientific Bulletin of Mukachevo State University. Series “Economics”, 13(2), 114-121. https://doi.org/10.52566/msu-econ2.2026.114