Ukrainian agricultural exports are likely to increase to about four million tonnes in August, up from three million tonnes in July, thanks to a UN-brokered accord to lift the blockade on Ukrainian seaports.
Denis Marchuk, whose council represents agricultural producers, indicated on television that Ukrainian farmers would continue to face financing shortages, and that despite increasing export potential, a third of them will not participate in the 2022/2023 winter planting season later this month.
Ukraine’s agricultural exports have plunged since the country’s start of conflict and the closing of its Black Sea ports, leading global food prices to skyrocket and prompting worries of food crises in Africa and the Middle East.
At the end of July, the United Nations and Turkey achieved an agreement that lifted the blockade of three Black Sea ports.
Despite the reopening of the ports, Ukrainian agricultural exports have remained significantly lower than they were before to the conflict, when Ukraine exported up to six million tonnes of grain per month.
Cereal exports grew 8.5% during the 2021/22 season, which ended on June 30. 5% to 48. 5 million tonnes as a result of aggressive exports prior to the Russian invasion, which began on February 24.
The government expects that Ukraine will harvest at least 50 million tonnes of grain this year, down from a record 86 million tonnes in 2021, due to Russian acquisition of areas of Ukrainian territory and decreasing productivity.
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In August, Ukraine expects agricultural exports of 4 million tonnes.
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