The situation is extremely difficult. By some indicators, it is even more difficult than in March–April 2022. Due to the suspension of maritime logistics, domestic prices for grains and oilseeds have already fallen by an average of 30%, while the direct losses of the agricultural sector this year could reach between $1.5 billion and $3 billion.
It Will Take a Month to Return to Previous Export Volumes After Port Operations Resume
06 August 2026, 12:00 163
Russian attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure have effectively halted traffic to the ports of Greater Odesa. Ukraine is expanding exports by rail, road and via the Danube. However, these routes will be able to provide only about half the capacity of the Black Sea ports. This poses a threat to exports of Ukraine’s harvest and the stability of global food markets.
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi stated this in an interview with Reuters.
According to him, the blockage of maritime exports coincided with the active harvesting period, when agricultural producers need to store their products, finance the autumn sowing campaign and fulfil export contracts.
Taras Vysotskyi, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine
One of the government’s first decisions to support producers was to adjust the mechanism for determining the minimum allowable export prices for grains and oilseeds. The government is also developing financial and logistics instruments intended to help farmers avoid being forced to sell their harvest at an undervalued price.
The main alternative routes remain rail, road transport and the Danube ports. It will take at least until the end of August for these routes to reach a stable level of operation. At the same time, their total capacity will amount to only about 50–55% of the volumes handled by the ports of Greater Odesa, through which Ukraine was able to export around 6 million tonnes of products per month.
The situation is complicated by drought and historically low water levels in the Danube. As a result, the Danube route will not be able to significantly increase transport volumes until at least October.
«Ukraine accounts for around 6% of global wheat exports and 11% of global corn exports and also remains one of the leading suppliers of oilseeds and vegetable oils. The continued blockage of the Black Sea ports could reduce supply on international markets and cause global food prices to rise. The uninterrupted operation of the ports of Greater Odesa is a key condition for supplying Ukrainian agricultural products and maintaining global food security,» the Minister stressed.
Taras Vysotskyi called on international partners to help ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. According to him, even after vessel calls resume, Ukraine will need at least one month to return exports to their previous volumes.
03 July 2026, 07:201732Sustainable Farming: Implementing Modern Sustainable Technologies Without Unnecessary Mistakes and Losses
26 June 2026, 07:201677Agro Ukraine Week 2026: How Ukraine’s First Three-Day Agricultural Forum Took Place
24 June 2026, 07:201221СИЛА АГРОЗМІН: Bright Photo Highlights from the Award Ceremony
- 05 August 2026, 09:47 627
Agricultural Sector Losses from Export Disruptions Could Reach $1.5–3 BillionUsing alternative logistics routes will cost agricultural producers an additional €50–70 per tonne of products, while the total losses of Ukraine’s agricultural sector could amount to $1.5–3 billion. This is why the support of international partners is critically important both for Ukraine and for preserving global food security.
- 04 August 2026, 11:08 856
AgroFoodSummit: Ukraine and Türkiye are entering a new chapter in agricultural tradeFollowing the ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the first major international business event dedicated to exploring new opportunities will be AgroFoodSummit 2026, taking place on 24–25 September in Mersin — a strategic Mediterranean port and one of the region's leading logistics hubs for global agricultural trade.