Ukraine targets Q1 2026 completion of Chornomorsk Port container terminal concession tender

The Ukrainian government expects to complete the concession process for the container terminal at the Port of Chornomorsk in the first quarter of 2026, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Alona Shkrum said in an interview with Forbes.

According to her, the terminal previously handled up to 50% of the country’s container traffic, or around 540,000 TEU per year. Its capacities have deteriorated and require significant investment, yet investor interest remains high. During a spring roadshow in Poland, more than 40 companies from four continents expressed readiness to participate in the project despite the ongoing war.

The investor will be granted the right to operate the container terminal under a 40-year concession. Estimates suggest the project could generate up to $1 billion in revenues for the state budget.

Shkrum emphasized that only companies passing enhanced security screening will be allowed to participate. Applicants with Russian capital, ports in Russia, or other links to Russia will not be considered.

Potential concessionaires must meet a number of requirements, including proven experience in terminal management, at least $50 million in available investment, a guarantee to preserve nearly 1,000 jobs during the first five years, and the ability to increase throughput to at least 250,000 TEU within the first three years after signing the agreement.

Unlike the pre-war concessions in Kherson and Olvia ports, this project will use a competitive dialogue mechanism.

“Within the dialogue framework, companies can propose additional subprojects — for example, contributions to the region or community, or the construction of a road. This provides much broader opportunities. We are interested not only in the size of the concession fee, but in investments and the development of the port. The feasibility study and project preparation were carried out by the EBRD and the IFC. Investor trust in these institutions is very high,” Shkrum said.

The tender is expected to be announced by the end of the year. Companies will then have two months to submit applications. As a result, the realistic timeframe for completing the selection process is the first quarter of next year, with the final signing of the concession agreement to follow at a later stage.