It is reported that the Transport and Communications Ministry of Ukraine is initiating the introduction of discounts on transit cargo handling at maritime merchant ports in 2011.

In particular, it is proposed to set a discount of 25% on handling bulk mineral and construction materials at Berdiansk maritime merchant port. The draft document also foresees 30% discounts on handling bulk grain, seeds, pig iron and ferrous metals and 40% discounts on handling bulk sulphur at Illichivsk maritime merchant port.

It is also proposed to set a discount of 18% on handling grain and seeds in bulk under the board to board terms and 30% discounts on handling pig iron and ferrous metals at Mariupol maritime merchant port.

A discount of 30% on handling ferrous metals, cast iron, cereals, grain, iron ore and raw sugar is foreseen at Odesa seaport. It is planned to set a 25% discount on handling iron ore and coal in bulk at Yuzhny port.

The draft document includes certain preferences for transit cargo transshipment at Kerch, Mykolaiv, Reni, Kherson and Ust-Dunaisk ports. In addition, there is a 50% discount on transit container handling at all of Ukrainian seaports

(Sourced from www.interfax.com.ua)