Almost 30,000 tonnes of Ukrainian iron ore has been shipped from the Polish port of Swinoujscie on the Baltic Sea after arriving at the port by rail. The cargo is destined for Algeria, according to Karol Bowzyk, chief executive of port operator OT Port Swinoujscie.

“As a result of the war in Ukraine, we expect additional cargoes to come from this country,” Bowzyk says in a note seen by Kallanish. “The port’s warehouses are currently stocking over 50,000t of iron ore coming from Ukraine. Taking into account the concluded commercial contracts with partners from Ukraine, we are preparing to handle the increased cargo weight, including implementing an investment programme which covers the preparation of storage yards and the purchase of mechanised equipment.”

An increasing number of goods are arriving by rail from Ukraine for export from Polish ports to buyers in regions such as Africa. The ports of Swinoujscie and neighbouring Szczecin are fully ready to serve them, a statement on their website reads.

New integrated logistical chains stand to be created as a result of the situation in Ukraine, according to Krzysztof Urbas, chief executive of the Szczecin-Swinoujscie Seaports Management Board. “The ports are ready to handle cargoes that were hitherto transported by land. The situation will therefore paradoxically lead to a growth in transhipment capacity at Polish ports,” he comments.

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih previously said it was working with Ukrainian railway carrier Ukrzaliznytsia to increase its shipments to Europe, and negotiating with the Polish government to use Poland’s Baltic Sea ports to export product (see Kallanish passim). Metinvest also indicated it aims to create logistical channels through the port in Swinoujscie, as well as Constanta in Romania.