Taras Vysotsky

By the end of September, Ukraine had exported 2.4 million tonnes of agricultural products, representing 46% of the required volume. Of this, grain exports amounted to 1.4 million tonnes, or 38% of the potentially required export volume.

Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements for opening the agricultural chapters within the fifth cluster of negotiations on accession to the European Union and is currently awaiting a political decision.

Ukraine sees no positive signs that a truce to ensure grain exports through the Black Sea could be reached in the coming months.

Ukraine has appealed to the European Union and other international partners for $1.5–2 billion to compensate for the additional costs of exporting grain through Baltic ports.

Soybean production in Ukraine in 2026 will amount to 3.8 million tonnes, of which 2.8 million tonnes will be processed. Exports will total 1 million tonnes.

Ukrainian farmers may reduce sown areas if the blockade of seaports continues.

Problems with the maritime export of agricultural products could stimulate the development of domestic processing in Ukraine.

From August 1 to 18, Ukraine exported 900,000 tonnes of agricultural products. This represents 31% of the volume that could have been exported if there had been unrestricted access to the ports of Greater Odesa.

Ukraine has officially appealed to the EU with a request for €220 million in assistance for a specific purpose — to compensate interest on loans for agricultural producers. They need these funds to carry out the autumn sowing campaign and continue their operations amid export difficulties caused by the shutdown of Black Sea ports.

At the current pace of limited exports without the ports of Greater Odesa, Ukraine will effectively face a shortage of domestic grain storage capacity in November, which could amount to between 8 million and 11 million tonnes.

Alternative routes for exports of grain, oilseeds and their processed products through the Danube region, by rail and road transport, during periods of their active use, provided a maximum of up to 50% of the volume that was shipped through the ports of Greater Odesa.

In August, vessels are no longer calling at the ports of Greater Odesa. From August 1 to 12, Ukraine exported 590 thousand tonnes of grain, which is 30% of the required volume. Currently, about 45% of agricultural exports are transported by rail, about 45% through the Danube region, and 10% by road.

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.

Taras Vysotskyi is not a new figure at the agricultural ministry. Having served as Deputy Minister for seven years, both in a separate ministry and within merged ministries, he remained a source of stability for participants in the agri-food sector.

Using 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.

Over the past several days, only four to five vessels have been calling at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports due to Russian attacks, and vessel traffic was suspended on 22 July. The Ukrainian government is currently working to resolve the situation and will take all possible measures to ensure the continued stability of exports through the Black Sea ports.