September 8, 2010

Ukraine blocks 20 ships with export grain

Ukraine customs has blocked more than 20 ships with 380,000 tonnes of grain for export at sea ports, demanding additional quality checks, Ukraine's Grain Association said Tuesday (Sept 7).

There is no official ban on the export of grain from Ukraine but traders have been complaining that the grain export is being delayed by customs officials at the ports.

The Grain Association said it agreed with both the government and the agriculture ministry's forecast that Ukraine would export about 15 million tonnes of grain in the current marketing year.

However, the association said the blocking of ships with grain for export was unjustified, depriving grain producers of the chance to take advantage of the current high-grain prices on the world market.