Danube Water Levels Hinder Ukraine Grain Exports

The Danube River's record-low water levels are severely impacting Ukraine's grain exports through Romania.

Cargo ships are forced to carry lighter loads due to limited capacity, causing higher costs and delays for road and rail transport.

This is a critical concern as the Black Sea is the main export channel for Russia and Ukraine, which together account for over 25% of global wheat exports.

Ukraine's state railway operator is negotiating with neighboring countries to add new export routes and expand grain transportation corridors, but Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotskyi notes that rail transport combined with the Danube route can only carry one-third of the capacity of Ukraine's Black Sea ports.