A Russian drone attack overnight damaged Ukrainian grain infrastructure near the Danube River, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by Odessa regional governor Oleh Kiper.
The incident, which occurred on December 6 in the port district of Izmail, crucial for Ukrainian grain exports in recent months, resulted in the death of a driver and damage to a storage building, an elevator and trucks, according to Kiper.
Ukrainian Danube ports have become a vital outlet for the country's grain exports following the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the subsequent blockade of Black Sea ports, as pointed out in the December 7 report.
The Black Sea Grains Initiative (BSGI), brokered by the United Nations (UN) and Turkey, enabled the safe export of grains. However, Russia withdrew from the agreement in July, beginning attacks on Danube port infrastructure with waves of drones in August and September. The latest recorded attack was the first since November 21.
Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, corn, barley and Sunflower oil. However, its grain exports have declined significantly. So far this year, it totals 13.4 million tons, compared to 18.3 million in the same period last year. These data are from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Ukrainian authorities project to harvest 79 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds in 2023/24, with 50 million tonnes available for export. In the latest AgriCensus report on December 5, Ukraine finalized export agreements for corn, rapeseed, sunflower and wheat to Bulgaria.
Bulgaria and Ukraine reach agreement to resume imports of agricultural commodities
Bulgaria had banned imports of these commodities from Ukraine, after the European Commission decided in September not to extend the temporary ban on Ukrainian imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, with the aim of protecting local farmers, according to a previous AgriCensus report on November 23.
The new agreement between Ukraine and Bulgaria allows exports, but requires bilateral consultations with the importing country, as indicated in the report.
“The Bulgarian government has lifted restrictions and supported our action plan for the verification and approval of the export of certain types of agricultural products,” said Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi.
“Finally, all technical issues between our countries have been agreed, and the Ukrainian government can start accepting orders from exporters,” Solskyi added.
However, business sources in the region warned that there was still a lack of clarity about how the process would work, as mentioned in the AgriCensus report.
“In theory, exports are allowed from the first of December. However, in practice, no one knows what documents are needed and how this might happen. The statement was made by a Bulgaria-based trader to AgriCensus.”
Source: Oils & Fats International
