This paper analyses all the finds of Byzantine amphorae in Sougdaia known so far and dated from the second half of the tenth through the late twelfth century. The relation of the discovered vessels to the types established by researchers and the chronological frame of their use has been determined. In a few cases, the morphological indicators of vessels and their chronology in Sougdaia have been clarified. The analysis done has compared the sets and percentage of amphorae during the said historical period in the Eastern Crimea, Sougdaia in particular, and the western side of the peninsula, in Chersonese. The conclusion is that the two periods of Byzantine amphorae determined in Sougdaia reflect different stages of economic relations between this mediaeval city and Constantinople and the Empire’s central provinces. The increasing role of the imperial capital subsequently revived the coastal cities and towns in Taurica’s intermediary function for Rus’-Byzantine trading. The archaeological materials supply a brilliant evidence for the ports’ dominant city-forming role from the second half of the tenth century on, which continued throughout the period in question. Nevertheless, in contrast to the south-western and southern regions of the peninsula, eastern Taurica did trading basically with large Byzantine cities apart from Constantinople, plausibly with Trebizond.