Ukraine's grain exports are beginning to take shape as more and more ships are safely entering the Black Sea. Meanwhile, 370.000 tons of agricultural products have been shipped and land exports are also increasing.
Yesterday (August 9), 2 more freight ships with grain left Chornomorsk, Ukraine. This brings the total number of cargo ships that have safely departed Ukrainian ports to 12, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. One of the ships is headed to South Korea with 65.000 tons of corn, the other ship is headed to Istanbul with sunflower meal on board. More than 370.000 tons of agricultural products have now been exported from Ukraine by cargo ships, made possible by the grain corridor.
'3 million tons of exports the target'
Since the start of the new 2022/2023 export season on July 1, more than 8 million tons of grains have crossed the border until August 2. Part of this is old harvest, but the new harvest will also leave the country, the Ukrainian customs service reports. Corn is the most exported product with 1,3 million tons, followed by wheat with 467.000 tons. The export volume is still significantly lower than last season when 3,8 million tons were exported in the same period.
The aim is to significantly increase grain exports, says Oleksiy Vostrikov, head of state-owned Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA). According to him, they are well on their way to enabling an export volume of 3 million tons per month through Ukraine's ports. This is also desperately needed to be able to export the old and new harvest.
Yet the first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since the agreed grain corridor never arrived at its final destination. Cargo ship De Razoni was destined for Lebanon, but is now anchored in the Turkish port city of Mersin. The Lebanese buyer refused his shipment of 26.500 tons of corn because the seller was 5 months late in delivering. Now a new buyer is being sought. This was reported by the Ukrainian embassy in Lebanon.