27 February 2023

2 minute read

By: Global Ag Media

Ukraine grain exports are down almost 27% at 31.8 million tonnes in the 2022/23 season so far, hit by a smaller harvest and logistical difficulties caused by the Russian invasion, Reuters reported, citing data from the agriculture ministry on Monday.

The volume so far in the July to June season included about 11.2 million tonnes of wheat, 18 million tonnes of corn and about 2 million tonnes of barley. Exports at the same stage of the previous season were almost 43.5 million tonnes.

The ministry said grain exports so far in February had reached 4.7 million tonnes as of Feb. 27, down from 5.04 million tonnes in the same period last year.

After an almost six-month blockade caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, three Ukrainian Black Sea ports were unblocked at the end of July under a deal between Moscow and Kyiv brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

However, Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of delaying inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian agricultural goods, leading to reduced shipments and losses for traders.

Ukraine appealed this month to the United Nations and Turkey to press Russia to stop hindering Ukrainian grain shipments that supply millions of people and not to use food as a weapon.

A major global grain grower and exporter, Ukraine's grain output is likely to have dropped to about 54 million tonnes in clean weight in the 2022 calendar year, down from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021.

Officials have blamed the fall on hostilities in the country's eastern, northern and southern regions.