Poland to extend embargo of Ukraine grain
Poland announced on Sept. 12 that it will not lift its embargo of imports of Ukrainian grain this week as originally planned. Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said resuming imports would hurt Polish farmers.
Romania to boost Ukrainian grain exports
With additional staff and the completion of EU-funded infrastructure projects, Romania said it could double its monthly transit of Ukrainian grain to its Black Sea port of Constanta to 4 million tonnes in coming months, particularly via the Danube River, Reuters reported, citing Romania's minister of transport. Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain exporters, and Russia has been attacking its agricultural and port infrastructure after refusing to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the United Nations…
Russia’s gambit in Ukraine
Russia’s exit from the Black Sea grain deal, followed by barrages of strikes unleashed on ports in Odesa, the Mykolaiv River, and most recently, the Danube River, threatens to plunge the Ukrainian grain industry into chaos.
Russia hits grain infrastructure on Danube River
Russia has continued its attack on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure, destroying a grain warehouse on the Danube River in a drone attack on July 24, Reuters reported. Since leaving the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, Russia has targeted ports in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Chornomorsk, damaging grain terminals, port infrastructure and grain.
Russia Pulls out of Black Sea grain deal
Russia announced on July 17 it was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative which for nearly a year has allowed safe passage of Ukraine grain exports via the Black Sea in the midst of a war between the two countries. The deal, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, was set to expire at 5 p.m. today. The last shipments from Ukraine departed from the Port of Odesa on July 16.
Ukraine convinced Russia will exit grain deal.
Ukraine is nearly certain Russia will leave the Black Sea Grain Initiative as its renewal date approaches because Russia is developing an alternative for its ammonia exports, Reuters reported, citing a senior Ukrainian diplomat. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea deal in separate agreements with Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine.
Wheat prices rise with Ukraine dam breach.
As millions of liters of water poured through a breached dam in southern Ukraine threatening regional villages and water supplies, worries about an escalation of the war between major grain exporters Russia and Ukraine sent Chicago wheat up 2% to a three-week high on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The Russian-controlled Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River provides water to a swathe of southern Ukraine’s agricultural land, including the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, as well as cooling the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Ukraine says it has alternatives if Black Sea Grain Initiative not extended
Ukraine said it has alternate ways of transporting grain if the Black Sea agreement is not extended on May 18, Reuters reported. The agriculture ministry said not extending the agreement, as Russia has threatened, would not be an “apocalyptic scenario.”
EU plans help for farmers in countries bordering Ukraine
The European Union (EU) is planning a package worth 100 million euros ($109.32 million) to support farmers as countries bordering Ukraine have begun to restrict imports of Ukrainian cereals that they say have depressed their domestic market prices, Reuters reported, citing a European Commission spokesperson.
Cargill to stop elevating Russian grain exports.
Citing mounting challenges to its grain export operations in Russia, Cargill will cease elevating Russian grain in the new export season that begins July 1.