Ukraine's Food Exports Plunge as Black Sea Ports Remain Blocked
Ukraine's agri-food exports dropped to 794,000 tons in Aug 1-15, down from 3.67 million tons in all of July, as Odesa ports stay shut.
Ukraine's agricultural exports have collapsed in August after Russian strikes effectively shut down the country's main Black Sea ports, according to the farm minister.
Taras Vysotskyi said on Wednesday that shipments of agricultural goods totaled just 794,000 metric tons between August 1 and 15. That compares with 3.67 million tons exported during the entire month of July — a drop of more than 78 percent.
The sharp decline follows a wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on terminals and vessels in the Odesa port hub, which brought operations there to a standstill at the end of July. The port complex is critical for Ukraine's grain and oilseed exports.
The minister's remarks underscore the mounting pressure on Ukraine's agricultural sector, which relies heavily on seaborne trade to reach global markets. With the ports effectively closed, exporters have been forced to seek alternative routes, though these have limited capacity.
No timeline was given for when the ports might resume normal operations.