September 6, 2022
Grain exports from Ukraine 54.5% down
Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry said graine exports from the country are 54.5% down so far year-in-year in the 2022/2023 season at 4.16 million tonnes, Reuters reported.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the nation's grain exports have decreased as a result of the closure of its Black Sea ports, a crucial 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 the ministry's data, 2.59 million tonnes of corn, 1.19 million tonnes of wheat, and 361,000 tonnes of barley have already been exported during the July 2022 to June 2023 season.
Comparatively to the same period last year, 195,000 tonnes of grain have been exported so far in September, compared to 514,000 tonnes.
Due to the loss of land to Russian forces and lower grain yields, the government has predicted that Ukraine will harvest at least 50 million tonnes of grain this year, down from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021.
- Reuters