KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine is trying to ship as much grain as it can this summer, taking advantage of military gains it has made in the Black Sea, Reuters reported.

Prior to Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine exported about 6 million tonnes of grain per month via the Black Sea.

In July, the nation exported 4.2 million tonnes of agricultural goods, including 3.7 million tonnes through Odesa and 569,000 tonnes via the Danube River. That was double the amount from the same month last year.

There were six shipments of corn from Ukraine’s other two operational Black Sea ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi in June and July to Rotterdam, Europe’s busiest port, and Spain’s Cartegna, Reuters said.

Since July, Ukraine also has shipped cargoes to China, Egypt and Turkey.

Despite the increase in July, overall exports for the 2024-25 season are expected to drop because of unfavorable weather and the war’s impact, according to the ASAP agricultural consultancy group.

Totals could drop by 14.5 million tonnes to reach a decade low of 35 million tonnes, it said. Ukraine is a significant global supplier of wheat, barley, corn and sunflower oil.

Ukraine has created a shipping corridor after the UN-backed Black Sea grain export initiative ended last year.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has sustained multiple missile and drone attacks, some of which have targeted Odesa and Izmail, Reuters said. Ukrainian officials say port infrastructure is being targeted.

Ukraine’s military assists ships entering and exiting ports, with captains operating under specific safety instructions, the country's navy chief Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa told Reuters.

Still Ukraine has to manage other challenges, including energy blackouts.