Black Sea Conflict Threatens India's Food Security

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is having far-reaching consequences for India's food and fertiliser security. The Black Sea region, which accounts for a third of global wheat trade and 63% of sunflower oil exports, has been severely impacted by the war.

India is one of the most exposed countries to this disruption, relying heavily on imports from the Black Sea region for both food products and fertilisers. The country's dependence on these imports makes it vulnerable to any upheavals in the conflict zone.

The impact is already being felt, with sunflower oil shipments from the Black Sea delayed by up to 60 days and India's imports falling by 24% this season. Crude sunflower oil prices have risen by 18.4% compared to last year, while palm oil prices have increased by only 9.4%

The government has responded by cutting import duties on edible oils, but finding alternative suppliers is proving more expensive due to longer journeys and increased competition for suppliers.