Over 90% of Ukrainian agricultural products are exported through the ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube
24 February 09:50
Since August last year, more than 30 million tonnes of agricultural products have been exported via the Ukrainian Corridor and the Danube River. This is more than 90% of our country’s total agricultural exports.
This was reported by with reference to the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
For almost 7 months of the Ukrainian Corridor’s operation, 854 vessels have exported 26 million tonnes of cargo from the ports of Greater Odesa to 42 countries, of which more than 18 million tonnes are products of Ukrainian farmers.
“Export volumes via the Ukrainian Corridor have almost reached the pre-war level of exports from the ports of Pivdennyi, Odesa and Chornomorsk. In December, we exported 6.8 million tonnes by sea, and in January – 6.7 million tonnes. Even though February is the shortest month of the year, we still hope to maintain exports at least as high as in previous months. A stably operating corridor is important for both Ukraine’s economy and global food security. The Ukrainian corridor and the Danube ports currently account for more than 90% of agricultural exports. And given the situation with the blocking of our exports on the western border, we are preparing to increase agricultural exports across the Danube, bypassing the border with Poland. UDP is already preparing barge caravans that can carry more than 2,000 trucks per month,” – said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for Recovery, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.
Currently, the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi are waiting for 111 more vessels to arrive, which will export 3.3 million tonnes of cargo after loading.
Border blockade
Problems at the border began on 6 November 2023, when Polish transport companies began blocking truck traffic at three major checkpoints on the Ukrainian border: “Korczowa-Krakowiec, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, and Dorohusk-Yagodyn. One of the requirements was to reinstate the permits for Ukrainian carriers that had been cancelled under the agreement with the EU by 30 June 2024.
On 6 January, truck traffic to the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing in Poland resumed. Three other border crossing points were opened on 17 January, namely Dorohusk – Yagodyn, Hrebenne – Rava-Ruska, and Korczowa – Krakivets.
On 9 February 2024, Polish farmers began a new nationwide strike and blockade of the border with Ukraine, which will last until 10 March. It was initiated by the independent farmers’ trade union Solidarity. The main demand of the protesters is to cancel the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and to return the permit system for importing goods into Poland.
The border blockade is currently ongoing, with Polish farmers blocking truck traffic at six checkpoints. According to the State Border Guard Service, there are more than 2,500 trucks in the queues.
Meanwhile, Poland has already imposed an embargo on Ukrainian grain, according to Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak.
Polish Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Hetman, in turn, said that Poland could impose an embargo on all Ukrainian agricultural products.
Ukrainians responded by blocking the border for Polish trucks.