Murmansk to Begin Grain Exports Using Fertiliser Loading Gear

Russia's Arctic port of Murmansk will deploy equipment normally used for loading fertiliser to handle its first grain exports from southern Russia, with shipments possible as early as next month. The Black Sea route remains closed because of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Murmansk lies far from Ukraine and, unlike Russia's Baltic ports, can be approached through neutral waters. The port said on Tuesday it would use a direct-transfer system that moves cargo straight from railcars into ships' holds, a method typically employed for potash exports. It has also been adapting conveyor systems to manage larger grain volumes.

Modern grain terminals, such as those in Novorossiysk, generally rely on storage elevators, which give operators more flexibility. The shift to direct transfers at repurposed terminals underscores the pressure to restore export flows.

"For the country's economy, it is important that Russian producers have several reliable options for export logistics," said Andrei Riznichenko, the port's operations director, in a statement.

Murmansk, Russia's fourth-largest port, has an annual handling capacity of up to 24 million metric tons but has not previously handled grain. It sits 2,700 km (1,677 miles) from Novorossiysk, the country's main grain export gateway.

Russian companies have been converting fertiliser, coal and other cargo terminals at Baltic and Arctic ports, including Murmansk, to handle grain exports. Analysts expect Russian grain exports to halve in the July to September period because of the closure of ports on the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

The disruption has pushed down domestic grain prices and led to a build-up of unsold stocks. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia was finding alternative routes for grain exports.