Prospects for Ukraine’s agri-exports via overseas ports

Prospects for Ukraine’s agri-exports via overseas ports

Prospects for Ukraine's agri-exports via overseas ports

Kyiv, 4 May (Argus) — Ukraine — one of the world's largest grain and oilseed suppliers — is actively seeking to revive its seaborne shipments of agricultural products, considering re-export possibilities through third countries' ports amid the blockage of Ukrainian Azov and Black Sea ports since Russia's invasion on 24 February.

Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports have fallen drastically over the past two months, with the country cut off from the sea shipments that account for over 90pc of its agricultural exports. Ukraine and partner countries are actively searching new logistics routes to export agricultural products, including rail, with one of the new routes through Romania to the port of Constanta, and corridors through Poland and the Baltic ports also being developed.

Romanian ports

Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta represents the best logistics solution for Ukrainian reexports of agricultural products, as from there goods could be shipped directly to north African, Asian and African countries — major buyers of Ukraine's grains and oilseeds.

Ukraine has already shipped its first Panamax-sized cargo of corn since the start of the Russian invasion from Constanta last week, with Ukrainian trading company Ukrlandfarming loading 71,200t of product, which is believed to