Ukraine’s grain exports via Romania’s Constanta down by half in Jan-Sept
Ukraine’s grain exports through the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta fell by half on the yearin the first nine months to 5.17 million metric tons, the port authority said, as Kyiv has increasingly relied on its own ports this year despite Russian attacks on ships and port infrastructure.
Constanta remains Ukraine’s main alternative route for grain since Russia’s full-scale invasion and the port has seen an influx of European Union investment funds to boost its capacity.
But Ukraine has managed to boost grain exports through its own ports by creating a shipping corridor that hugs the western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria after Russia withdrew from a U.N.-backed export initiative last year.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile hit two vessels in as many days in the southern port of Odesa, following two similar attacks in September. Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s Black Sea and Danube river port infrastructure.
Constanta Port data, which does not include volumes handled through smaller Romanian ports and exports by rail and road, showed that 430,000 tons of Ukrainian grain left port in September.
Monthly volumes increased compared with summer months, when low Danube levels due to drought complicated transport to Constanta.
Overall grain exports through Constanta totalled 21.86 million tons in the first nine months, down 12.9% on the year.
Romania is one of the EU’s biggest grain exporters and its Constanta port also handles grain flows from landlocked neighbours including Serbia, Hungary and Moldova.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Louise Heavens)