Ukraine Ports Have Shipped Around 4.7 Million Tonnes of Food Under Grain Deal: Ministry

Ukraine Ports Have Shipped Around 4.7 Million Tonnes of Food Under Grain Deal: Ministry
The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, carrying Ukrainian grain, in the Black Sea off Kilyos, near Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Mehmet Emin Caliskan/Reuters)
Reuters
9/24/2022
Updated:
9/24/2022

KYIV—A total of 211 ships with 4.7 million tonnes of agricultural products on board have left Ukraine so far under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to unblock Ukrainian sea ports, the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said eight ships with 131,300 tonnes of agricultural products are due to leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Saturday.

Ukraine’s grain exports slumped after Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24 and blockaded its Black Sea ports, driving up global food prices, and prompting fears of shortages in Africa and the Middle East.

Ukraine, a global major grain producer and exporter, shipped up to 6 million tonnes of grain per month before the war.

Three Black Sea ports were reopened under a deal signed on July 22 by Moscow and Kyiv. The ministry has said these ports are able to load and send abroad 100–150 cargo ships per month.