August 30, 2022

Grain exports from Ukraine 52.6% lower so far in 2022/23

Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry said the country's grain exports are down 52.6% year-on-year at 3.6 million tonnes so far in the 2022–23 season, Reuters reported.

Strong shipments prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 helped to drive the 8.5% increase or to 48.5 million tonnes in grain exports for the 2021/22 season to June 30.

Since the war began, Ukraine's grain exports have decreased as a result of the closure of its Black Sea ports, a vital shipping route. This has increased the price of food globally and raised concerns about food shortages in Africa and the Middle East.

A deal between Moscow and Kyiv, mediated by the UN and Turkey, resulted in the opening of three Black Sea ports at the end of July.

According to ministry data, 2.33 million tonnes of corn, 981,000 tonnes of wheat, and 289,000 tonnes of barley have been exported so far in 2022–2023.

These volumes include 1.9 million tonnes of grain,which are almost 60% less than the 4.6 million tonnes exported during the same period last year.

The Ukrainian government said due to the loss of land to Russian forces and lower grain yields, Ukraine could harvest only 50 million tonnes of grain this year, down from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021.

-      Reuters