KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine dispatched 13 ships from its ports on Sept. 4 carrying 282,500 tonnes of agricultural products, its biggest convoy of grain vessels so far under a UN-brokered deal, Reuters reported.

The cargo, which was loaded at the Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, is headed to eight countries. The ports had been blockaded by Russia’s invasion until a July 22 deal brokered by the UN and Turkey.

Since then 86 ships have left Ukrainian ports, carrying 2 million tonnes of agricultural products to 19 countries.

Ukraine hopes to export 60 million tonnes of grain in eight to nine months, presidential economic adviser Oleh Ustenko said in July. Those exports could take up to 24 months if ports do not function properly, he said.