Ukraine Wheat Exports Face Corn Crunch in October and November

Ukraine's wheat exports may decline in October and November due to rising corn shipments, according to the Ukrainian Association of Cooperatives (UAC). The association cited constrained logistics as a major factor, with newly harvested corn expected to enter the market in large volumes. This will divert a significant share of logistics capacity from wheat exports to corn, potentially causing problems for Ukraine's wheat exporters.

The UAC reported that about 950,000 metric tons of wheat had been exported from Ukraine so far in September. However, only about 600,000 were contracted for exports in October. In contrast, 850,000 tons of corn have been contracted for export in October, compared to just 282,000 tons exported in September.

The Ukrainian seaports, which previously handled 90% of the country's grain exports, have been effectively blocked since late July due to Russian missile and drone attacks. As a result, grain shipments have been redirected to lower-capacity Danube river terminals and land border crossings with Eastern European countries.