KYIV, UKRAINE — Even with the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowing grain to move more freely from southern Ukrainian ports, Ukraine’s grain exports in the 2022-23 marketing year are down 30% compared with the same time last year, Reuters reported on Nov. 7.
Thus far Ukraine has exported 14.3 million tonnes, down from 20.6 million in 2021-22, including 5.4 millon tonnes of wheat, 7.7 million tonnes of corn and 1.2 million tonnes of barley. The marketing year runs from July 1 through June 30.
After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukraine was unable to export any grain through its Black Sea ports until a deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, was reached in late July.
Last week Russia suspended participation in the deal for several days after it alleged that Ukraine attacked several Russian ships in the Black Sea. However, it did not reinstitute a naval blockade and reentered the deal.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s largest grain exporters, has driven up global food prices and increased food insecurity in a number of developing countries, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
