After blockade in the Black Sea
Ukraine wants to export grain through Croatia
08/01/2023, 1:11 p.m
In mid-July, Moscow scrapped the grain agreement with Ukraine — and since then has repeatedly shelled Ukrainian port cities. For the important grain exports, Kiev therefore needs an alternative route. This should now lead across the Danube to the Croatian Adriatic coast.
Ukraine says it has reached an agreement with Croatia to export its grain through ports on the Adriatic. The agricultural goods are to be shipped to Croatia via the Danube, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in Kiev. The freight is then to be brought to the Adriatic coast by rail. The export quantities that can be achieved with this have not been communicated.
The country wants to avoid a blockade by Russia in the Black Sea after Moscow canceled the agreement on shipping the grain brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in mid-July. The Russian military had recently attacked Ukrainian seaports around Odessa and the Danube ports with missiles and drones. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, 180,000 tons of grain were destroyed.
In addition, the Russian fleet is blocking access to the Ukrainian coast. Although Kiev is trying to increase exports by land via the European Union, several neighboring countries such as Poland are also hindering this transport route.
Many farmers in the EU fear a drop in prices should Ukrainian grain reach the market. Ukraine is one of the top agricultural exporters in the world. Due to the reduction in Ukrainian exports, an increase in food prices, especially for poorer countries, was feared. However, the prices for wheat and corn reacted only briefly to the end of the grain corridor and the shelling of Ukrainian ports and are below the previous year’s level.