Russia Shifts Grain Exports to Baltic Amid Azov-Black Sea Disruptions

Russia's grain exports are facing significant logistics risks due to disruptions in the Azov-Black Sea basin. The shutdown of major terminals in Taman and Novorossiysk has reduced available capacity, prompting exporters to seek alternative routes.

The Baltic Sea is becoming a key backup route, with Russian ports such as Ust-Luga and Vysotsk increasing their handling capacity to 8 million tons per year. However, these ports remain exposed to wartime disruptions, including the risk of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Latvia's ports, which have a combined capacity of 23-25 million tons per year, are another potential reserve for Russian grain exports. However, access to these terminals is not guaranteed due to transit restrictions and political decisions.