Largest national project in Ukraine for a new intermodal industrial cluster, positioned as the Industrial Gateway of the Black Sea. The project is considered one of national importance, aiming to change the economic landscape of the country and become a driving force for the renewal and development of Ukrainian infrastructure.
Key Components and Features
The intermodal cluster is a comprehensive hub that includes:
A Deep-Sea Cargo Port with a target annual capacity of 120 million tons.
An extensive Industrial Area and Tax-Free Zone.
A Cargo Airport, Railway Hub, and an all-in-one cargo hub integrating marine, river, railway, and air transportation.
A plan to develop a new town based on the Smart City concept, utilizing best practices from South Korea's Incheon.
Strategic Role
The project's vision extends beyond a traditional port, aiming to become a strategic global logistics partner:
Mineral Resources Agreement
The project is positioned to serve as the logistical and industrial backbone for implementing the Ukraine-United States Mineral Resources Agreement. Its deep-sea access facilitates the export of Ukrainian ores, rare earths, and processed metals, while the intermodal network supports the import of industrial equipment.
Industrial Processing
The tax-free industrial cluster is designed to host refining and metallurgical facilities, enabling on-site processing of raw materials before export. Planned heavy industry capacity includes Steel (1M tons/year), Titanium (45,000 tons/year), and Aluminium (200,000 tons/year).
European Trade
The port can become a key link in the ongoing Baltic-Black Sea transportation route and a part of the Three Seas Initiative, connecting the ports of the Baltic and Black Seas.
Development and Timelines
The development is planned in phases, with the first phase of the cargo port requiring an initial investment of $800 million and estimated to become operational in 2 years.
Phase
Cargo Capacity (Mt)
Estimated Operational Date
First Phase
30
2026
Second Phase
96
4Q 2027
Third Phase (Full Capacity)
120
1Q 2029
The project is open to strategic investors, subcontractors, and industrial players worldwide to establish their production facilities in the dedicated industrial area.
In 2025, Ukraine and the United States concluded the Mineral Resources Agreement, establishing terms for joint investment in Ukraine's critical rare-earth elements and metals. The agreement establishes a U.S. – Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund to channel revenues and new investment into Ukraine’s post-war recovery. The Fund is to be jointly managed by both parties on an equal partnership basis. The agreement preserves Ukraine’s legal ownership of its natural resources and authority to decide what and where to extract. It provides the U.S. preferential access to critical minerals, contributing to supply chain resilience and reducing dependency on adversarial sources.
Basic Details
Published on December 14, 2025 Updated on November 03, 2026