Ukraine Cuts Grain Export Target Amid Ongoing Russian Port Attacks
Ukraine's agriculture minister Taras Vysotskyi revealed on Monday that the country has reduced its grain export forecast for the 2026/27 season due to ongoing Russian attacks on the Odessa port hub.
The revised target is between 38-40 million tonnes, a cut of up to 12 per cent from the previous projection of 43 million tonnes. This change reflects the significant disruption caused by the escalation in late July, which effectively halted shipments from Odessa ports.
The Odessa port hub is crucial for Ukraine's grain exports, accounting for over 90 per cent of its total grain exports. The recent attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports, export terminals, and vessels have resulted in a significant backlog of grain shipments, with losses estimated to be around $3 billion by the agriculture minister.
The disruption could lead to a shortage of 11 million tonnes of grain storage, highlighting the severity of the impact on Ukraine's agricultural sector. The consultancy APK-Inform has also reduced its export forecast by 8.6 per cent to 39.4 million tonnes, citing the ongoing export disruptions as the reason for the adjustment.