Ukraine Grain Exports Plunge to 6% of Last Year's August Pace

Ukraine's grain exports have collapsed in the first ten days of August, with wheat and barley shipments reaching only a fraction of their usual volume, according to the country's largest farmers' union.

The union, UAC, reported that Ukraine exported roughly 122,000 metric tons of wheat and 1,160 tons of barley between August 1 and August 10. That combined figure represents just 6% of the total wheat and barley exports recorded for the entire month of August last year.

"Wheat and barley exports will be very, very difficult in August and September," the UAC said in its weekly report, citing the near-total shutdown of Black Sea shipping lanes.

Russian forces have intensified attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, export terminals, and vessels in recent weeks, effectively closing the deepwater ports of the Odesa hub, which normally handles about 90% of the country's agricultural exports. Ukraine traditionally ships large volumes of barley and wheat in the first months after harvest through these ports.

The agriculture ministry has estimated that the port blockade could cost the agricultural sector up to $3 billion in losses.