1st link below explains damage to pivdennyi port on Saturday....

1st link below explains damage to pivdennyi port on Saturday. Also explains how rail service to the other major port Chornomorsk has been suspended.

these are the primary two ports used by Ukraine to export IO. See second and third links. One of the reasons for increased IO stock at ports is that Ukraine has substantially increased its exports of IO in the first qtr this year, especially to China. 43% of 9mt shipped has gone to China.

While Ukraine managed to go through a quarter mostly with minimal interruptions to its IO operations, this appears unsustainable as attacks and damage inflicted to its ports have intensified recently.

https://www.sheppnews.com.au/world/russian-missiles-hit-odesa-port-infrastructure/
Russian missiles hit Odesa port infrastructure
By AAP Newswire
Apr 20, 2024

“Russian missiles hit the port of Pivdennyi in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, damaging Ukrainian and Singaporean facilities at the site, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.”

"... they hit the Sea Port Pivdennyi. Several missiles struck port facilities, not only Ukrainian, but Singapore's as well," he said on Friday during a virtual address to the NATO-Ukraine Council.



Last week, Ukraine's national rail firm imposed a ban on deliveries to the large port of Chornomorsk, also in the Odesa region. Media reported that Russian attacks may have damaged railway tracks to the port's grain terminals.



https://gmk.center/en/news/about-15...ted-through-the-sea-corridor-in-5-months/amp/

https://gmk.center/en/news/ukraine-exported-3-34-million-tons-of-iron-ore-in-march/amp/


“In January-March 2024, Ukraine exported 9 million tons of iron ore, up 2.5 times compared to the same period in 2023. Export revenue increased 2.1 times year-on-year – to $863.31 million.

The bulk of raw materials were shipped to China, accounting for 43% of total exports in monetary terms. Another 17% went to Slovakia and 12.4% – to Poland.



For the first time since the start of a full-scale war, China has become the main export destination for Ukrainian iron and steel companies. This was facilitated by the opening of the sea corridor in August 2023. “