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Ukraine looks to Baltic ports for exports, much like Russia
Ukraine says Baltic ports could handle up to 20 million tons of grain as it seeks costlier alternatives to blocked Black Sea routes.
On Wednesday, Ukraine's agriculture ministry announced it is exploring Baltic Sea ports for grain exports, following a similar move by Russia as both sides seek alternatives to war-disrupted Black Sea routes.
Russian attacks effectively blocked Black Sea ports, which previously handled 90% of exports, forcing Ukraine to reroute cargo through three Danube river ports where bottlenecks added about $50 per metric ton in logistics costs.
Rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported only about 340,000 tons of grain reached Eastern Europe in the first half of September, with 278 wagons dispatched daily to the region, including just 65 bound for Poland.
Transporting grain via the Baltic would add about $100 per ton to export expenses, and Ukraine's agriculture ministry stated the country would need up to $2 billion in international support to offset these costs.
Transit through Poland remains the most likely route since Ukraine does not border the Baltic, though this path previously triggered large protests by Polish farmers who argued cheaper Ukrainian grain threatened domestic producers.
Due to ongoing Russian attacks on the port infrastructure of the Odessa region, Ukraine is forced to look for alternative routes for the export of agricultural products, and the ports of the Baltic countries could become one of them.
Ukraine intends to use Baltic Sea ports for grain exports, the Agriculture Ministry announced, following a similar move by Russia, as both sides seek alternative routes from the war-torn Black Sea.