Grain terminal on the Danube put up for sale amid declining transshipment

A logistics complex located on the banks of the Danube in Odesa region, specializing in the handling of grain, legumes, meal, mineral fertilizers, and liquid cargoes (diesel, gasoline, sunflower oil), has been put up for sale, reports Ukrainian Shipping Magazine.

The terminal is equipped with its own transshipment machinery, pipeline system, and weighing complex. Its current capacity is up to 120,000 tons per month, and with pier expansion, the handling volume could increase to 300,000 tons/month. Depths at the berth reach 9–10 meters.

The price has not been disclosed. Experts suggest the sale is linked to a decline in grain transshipment through the Danube ports and a gradual reorientation of cargo flows back to the ports of Greater Odesa.

Meanwhile, in the Port of Odesa, a major reconstruction project of one of Ukraine’s largest grain terminals has begun with the support of American investors. The project is expected to create about 150 new jobs and attract significant private capital into port infrastructure, providing additional tax revenues to local and state budgets.

In July, Financial Times reported that, with the assistance of the U.S. Presidential Administration, two American funds — Innovatus Capital Partners and Argentem Creek Partners — recovered $95 million in debt from Odesa business groups controlling the Olimpex terminal. After uncovering falsifications regarding grain stocks, the funds gained control over the asset in Odesa.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research

The sale of the Danube terminal is a signal of structural changes in Ukraine’s grain logistics.

Key points:

• The Danube ports, which were crucial for grain exports in 2022–2023, are now facing competition from the restored capacity of Greater Odesa.
•  U.S. investor activity in Odesa shows a strategic shift of capital and cargo flows back to the Black Sea ports.
• The sale of an operating Danube terminal may reflect a temporary decline in private investor interest in the Danube, although the region’s potential remains high due to deep berths, expansion opportunities, and proximity to EU markets.

 IDR conclusion: The current developments on the Danube reflect the tension between short-term logistical solutions and long-term investment strategies. For Ukraine, it is crucial to balance the development of both Danube and Black Sea ports, avoiding over-concentration of export routes and preserving diversified access to global markets