Russian Grain Exports Plummet Amid Black Sea Disruptions

Russian grain exports have declined sharply due to disruptions in navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, potentially affecting food supplies to Yemen.

The Russian Embassy in Yemen reported that major grain commodity exports in September 2026 fell fourfold compared to the same month in 2025. Wheat exports dropped by 3.7 times, barley exports by 9.9 times, and corn exports by 3.3 times.

The embassy attributed the decline to ongoing disruptions in maritime traffic and attacks on vessels operating in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, claiming that more than 200 civilian ships have been attacked since the beginning of the year, with Ukraine implicated as the perpetrator.