Ukraine grain exports down 29.7% so far 2023/24 -ministry

Ukraine’s grain exports are down 29.7% to 8.3 million metric tons so far in the 2023/24 July-June season, agriculture ministry data showed on Monday.

The ministry said traders by Oct. 24 last year had exported 11.9 million tons.

The ministry said 1.58 million tons of grain were exported in the first 22 days of October. Ukraine exported 3.16 million tons from Oct. 1-23 a year ago.

The exported volume included 4.16 million tons of wheat, 3.39 million tons of corn and 663,000 tons of barley.

Traders and farmers unions have said limited exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports and Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube River are the main reasons for lower shipments.

Ukraine has traditionally shipped most of its exports through its deep water Black Sea ports.

A deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey allowing such exports collapsed in July when Russia withdrew, saying its demand that sanctions be lifted on its grain and fertiliser exports had not been met.

Ukraine’s shipping sources said more than 30 cargo vessels had entered a fledgling Black Sea shipping corridor as Kyiv steps up a push to defy a de-facto Russian blockade.

Ukraine can also export limited volumes through small river ports on the Danube and via its western land border with the European Union.

Ukraine is expected to harvest 79 million tons of grain and oilseed in 2023, with 2023/24 exportable volumes of about 50 million tons.

Tags: wheat, shipments, Black Sea ports, Danube River, Ukraine, exports, corn, grain, barley