EU routes handle almost all Ukrainian imports
New figures show how important rail, road and inland waterways have become for Ukraine and Europe.
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The European Commission reports that the so-called Solidarity Lanes handled almost all Ukrainian imports in August. Most Ukrainian exports also travelled via alternative routes through the EU and Moldova, as the Black Sea remains vulnerable.
The European Commission published new figures on the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes on Monday. According to the Commission, almost 100 per cent of Ukrainian imports travelled via these routes in August. For exports, the figure was about 95 per cent for non-agricultural products and approximately 90 per cent for grain, oilseeds and related products.
The lanes consist of a combination of rail, road and inland waterways. They were set up in May 2022 after the Russian invasion and the blockade of Ukrainian ports disrupted the usual trade routes. The routes connect Ukraine with EU member states and Moldova and have since grown into a logistical lifeline for the country.
According to the Commission, around 235 million tonnes of Ukrainian goods have been exported via the lanes since May 2022. Around 105 million tonnes of this consisted of agricultural products, including approximately 96 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and related goods. A further 130 million tonnes consisted of ores, steel and other non-agricultural products.
The lanes are not the only route. In total, around 256 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and related products were exported via the lanes and Ukrainian Black Sea ports since May 2022. The Commission says that 40 per cent travelled via the lanes and 60 per cent via the Black Sea. In July, around 2.4 million tonnes of agricultural products were transported via the Black Sea.
The routes are also substantial on the import side. Since their launch, around 113 million tonnes of goods have entered Ukraine, according to the Commission, including fuel, vehicles, fertiliser and humanitarian aid. The total trade value via the lanes is estimated at approximately €314 billion: around €81 billion in Ukrainian exports and €233 billion in imports.
The new figures underline a broader European debate about resilience. A document for the European transport ministers says that geopolitical tensions, vulnerable shipping routes and disruptions to logistics chains are making transport a strategic issue. The Commission identifies addressing border procedures, traffic bottlenecks and infrastructure as conditions for keeping the routes operational. The figures do not prove that all bottlenecks have been resolved; above all, they show how great the dependence on these connections has become.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The EU published new figures on the Solidarity Lanes on 12 October.
- The lanes carried most of Ukraine's imports and exports in August.
- The Commission cites investment, improved border procedures and resolving logistical bottlenecks as ways to strengthen the routes.
Left
Arguments The EU must continue using public funds for reliable, sustainable lanes and must not place the full cost on Ukraine, carriers or consumers.
Values International solidarity, public infrastructure and protecting food security.
Consequences More investment could stabilise trade, but would require long-term European funding and stricter conditions for social and environmental sustainability.
Centre
Arguments Europe must keep multiple routes open, resolve bottlenecks in practical ways and link investment to verifiable trade and security objectives.
Values Continuity, cooperation, feasibility and institutional responsibility.
Consequences A network of alternatives reduces vulnerability, but makes coordination at borders and the sharing of costs more complex.
Right
Arguments The EU must build strategic connections more quickly and become less dependent on unstable or hostile partners, with greater attention to domestic production and security.
Values Strategic autonomy, national security and economic resilience.
Consequences Faster infrastructure development and less bureaucracy could help businesses, but may clash with environmental rules, budgetary discipline and local interests.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures and the description of the lanes are based directly on the European Commission's publication. The broader explanation of strategic vulnerability is supported by a document from the Council of the EU.
- confirmed Almost all Ukrainian imports travelled via the Solidarity Lanes in August. — The European Commission cites almost 100 per cent of imports. source
- confirmed Around 95 per cent of non-agricultural exports and 90 per cent of grain exports travelled via the lanes in August. — These percentages appear in the official monthly publication. source
- confirmed Around 235 million tonnes of goods were exported via the lanes since May 2022. — The Commission bases this on data from Ukrainian customs records. source
- confirmed Geopolitical tensions make transport connections a strategic issue for the EU. — This is stated as policy context in the background paper for the Council. source
Editor's note
The percentages and trade volumes are estimates by the European Commission based on Ukrainian customs data. The figures mainly describe August and the period since May 2022; they are not a forecast of future trade flows.Sources
- Solidarity Lanes: Latest figures – August 2026 — Europese Commissie
- Transport and telecommunications council: background information — Raad van de Europese Unie
- EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes — Europese Commissie
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „oekraïne transport”
- FD — „oekraïne transport”
- AD — „oekraïne transport”