UN is pushing for reopening of Ukrainian ports for grain export in exchange of lifting the ban on potash export from Russia and Belarus

Odessa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) May 17, 2022 - The reopening of Russia-blocked Ukrainian ports for at least a limited amount of grain export in exchange for allowing western sanctions-hit Russia and Belarus to export some potash (a plant nutrient) has been proposed. It is an idea of the United Nations (UN) that is supported by the United States and the European Union. This compromise will most likely concern Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port of Odessa. Global food shortage The UN is concerned that the blocked Ukrainian grain and Russian/Belarus potash export will lead to a global hunger crisis in the poorest countries. Turkey is offering help in managing the Black Sea shipping traffic resulting from any possible deal. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was quoted as saying: “we need to find a way to have the food production of Ukraine and the food and fertilizer production of Russia brought back to the global markets despite the war”. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss global food security on May 19. The European Commission (EC) announced on May 12 plans to set up Solidarity Lanes to help Ukraine export its agricultural produce. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and blockaded all Ukrainian ports, severely damaging and occupying Mariupol port. Thus, no Ukrainian ports can export grain or other cargo. This creates a global shortage, pushes up grain prices and denies revenue to the Kiev government. As an alternative, the Commission will develop new transport routes for exports – dubbed “Solidarity Lanes”. Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said: “20 million tonnes of grains have to leave Ukraine in less than three months using the EU infrastructure. This is a gigantesque challenge, so it is essential to coordinate and optimise the logistic chains, put in place new routes, and avoid, as much as possible, the bottlenecks. “Our communication addresses the emergency solutions but also medium and long time measures to better connect and integrate Ukraine’s infrastructure with the EU one. For both short-term and long-term solutions, we will work with the Ukrainian authorities and in close collaboration, especially with the neighbouring Member States, who spared no effort in helping during this crisis,” she added Exporting via Romania In a related issue, the Romanian government has issued in April a tender to renew a railway line connecting its port of Galati on the Danube River to Ukraine. The purpose is to provide transport for Ukrainian grain exports to Europe. Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu said the deadline for the tender was May 19 after which the work would take about two months to complete. One key issue is the railway gauge. Ukraine’s railway network uses a Russian gauge measuring roughly 1.5 metres. This is wider than the tracks used in most of Europe’s railways. With no operational seaports, Ukraine is using rail and Danube inland ports to transport grain to Romania. Galati is in eastern Romania on the Danube River, close to the borders with Ukraine and Moldova. It has a disused Soviet-era rail line to Ukraine via Moldova that would allow Ukrainian goods to be shipped easily to Galati. “This rail line will enable the transporting of goods to and from Ukraine. The Danube port will become, alongside the port of Constanta, one of the key places in the region for transporting goods and raw materials,” Grindeanu said. Ports Europe: Romania to invest in rail infrastructure at Port of Constanța More Ports Europe news about the Ukrainian crisis Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2022.

UN is pushing for reopening of Ukrainian ports for grain export in exchange of lifting the ban on potash export from Russia and Belarus

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UN is pushing for reopening of Ukrainian ports for grain export in exchange of lifting the ban on potash export from Russia and Belarus

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EU delegation visits Gioia Tauro port to see anti-drug efforts

Table: Russian ports monthly cargo results Oct’23-Oct’24

Russian ports handled 743 mln tonnes of cargo Jan-Oct’24

Reference: Russian occupation of neighbours’ territory

HHLA reports positive growth in the first nine months of 2024

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports