Ukraine is making progress in developing grain exports over land to the EU but will need to regain sea access blocked by Russia’s invasion to avert a worsening crisis for food importing countries, the country’s deputy economy minister said. Administrative and logistical delays are being resolved at transit points at Ukraine’s western borders with European Union countries, notably for rail freight. However, even if Ukraine managed to double monthly grain exports to around 2 MMT via land routes, that would not compensate the loss of its seaports.
Diplomatic efforts have intensified to free up grain stocks in Ukraine, which previously exported up to 6 MMT per month through seaports that have been closed since Russia’s invasion in February. Failure to re-establish sea trade in the coming months from Ukraine could prolong global food tensions by discouraging farmers from sowing winter wheat for next year.
