More than 130 ships loaded with Ukrainian wheat stuck in Black Sea; negotiations on with Russia for exports

At a time when many countries of the world are going through a foodgrain crisis, a traffic jam of more than 130 cargo ships loaded with Ukrainian grain is waiting in the Black Sea to go forward. In fact, the United Nations (UN) and Turkey are holding talks with Russia about Ukrainian grain exports. The exports from Ukraine have come to a halt since it was invaded by Russia. If Russia approves the movement forward, these ships will proceed to reach a series of ports and terminals in Romania, from where the grain can be exported to other countries of the world.

According to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian, the Russian armed forces have mined Ukraine’s southern coast. This has made it dangerous for ships to pass through that route. On the other hand, there are warnings of famine in parts of Africa as Ukraine’s grain has been kept from the international market and prices have rocketed.

Ukraine is the world’s leading wheat exporter, accounting for 9 per cent of the global market. It also accounts for 42 per cent of the sunflower oil market and 16 per cent of world corn production.

The wheat-loaded ships can go to Romania through the Sulina and Bystre estuary canals. Until recently, the Bystre estuary route had been closed, but that has changed with the removal of Russian forces. But only small ships can pass through this route. According to the Government of Ukraine, it exported about 2.5mn tonnes of goods in contrast to the 8mn tonnes it had hoped to export. Owing to Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports and a plethora of mines along the coast, 20-25mn tonnes of wheat is stuck in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine met UN and Turkish officials at Istanbul in Turkey only this week. The Istanbul negotiations were the first face-to-face talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations since March 29. According to the US space agency data, 22 per cent of Ukraine’s farmland has fallen under Russian control. Besides, there are allegations that Russia wants to export the wheat grown on these lands.