Ukrainian metallurgists and farmers called on the government to urgently restore safe navigation to seaports, since alternative routes are not able to compensate for the loss of Black Sea logistics.

This is stated in the joint address of the President of Ukrmetallurgprom Alexander Kalenkov and the General Director of the Ukrainian Agricultural Business Club Oleg Khomenko to Prime Minister Sergei Koretsky, the head of the Presidential Office Kirill Budanov and the relevant ministries.

According to the authors of the appeal, the ports have actually remained blocked since mid-July. Danube ports and western border crossings can provide only 28–30% of the required volumes, while 61% of cargo planned for export currently does not have a full route.

For metallurgy, the blockade is especially critical. Ukraine traditionally exports about 80% of its metal products and 50–60% of iron ore raw materials.

In 2025, the mining and metals industry provided about 5.5% of GDP, UAH 150 billion in taxes and $6 billion in foreign exchange earnings. At the same time, the industry ended the year with a net loss of UAH 28 billion.

In 2026, the situation was further complicated by Russian attacks on enterprises, an increase in Ukrzaliznytsya tariffs, a shortage of rolling stock, EU and CBAM quotas.

According to industry estimates, due to the blockade of ports and the rise in the cost of railway logistics, transportation of pig iron and raw materials for its production has approximately doubled in price. Bypass routes add up to $46 more costs per ton, which in some cases exceeds the profit from product sales.

An additional factor was the increase in UZ freight tariffs by 30% from August.

The appeal warns that stopping metallurgy will have consequences for the entire economy. One workplace in the mining and metallurgical complex provides more than seven jobs in related industries, and key enterprises are located in the front-line Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions.

Among the proposed solutions are the unblocking of ports for all types of cargo, discounts of up to 25% on rail transportation for enterprises within 150–200 km from the front, compensation for transit through EU ports, a war risk reinsurance fund and the expansion of EU quotas on Ukrainian metal products.

If the sea corridor does not resume operation, Ukraine’s losses during the year could amount to about $17 billion in export revenue and $8.5 billion in budgetary and social revenues. The appeal also talks about the risk of a fall in GDP of approximately 12%.