Ukrainian authorities estimate that more grain is being exported via the Danube River than at any time since the war broke out six months ago.

On Saturday, 11 ships with a total capacity of 45,000 tons arrived at the ports of Izmail, Reni and Ust-Donaysk, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine announced.

Since March, more than 4 million tons of grain have been exported from the country through Ukrainian ports on the Danube, the ministry added.

Since Russia’s offensive began on February 24, attention has focused on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which have been blockaded for months, preventing the export of millions of tonnes of grain.

On July 22, Ukraine and Russia, brokered by the UN, signed a deal in Turkey to allow food exports from Ukraine to resume through three Black Sea ports, which it is hoped will ease pressure on the global supply chain.

The Istanbul coordination center, which was set up under that deal, announced over the weekend that 1 million tons of grain and other food had been exported via the Black Sea after shipping resumed. In total, 103 ships have sailed from or docked in Ukraine since last month.

According to Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry, some quantities of grain left the country via more difficult routes, either by cargo ships sailing down the Danube to Romania, or by rail.

SOURCE: AMPE