Key facts
- Odesa farmers are experiencing a strong harvest but cannot sell their crops due to Russian attacks on ports.
- The maritime corridor for grain exports has become a 'kill zone,' with significantly fewer ships daring to enter.
- Russian attacks have targeted civilian cargo vessels, including those carrying grain and fertilizers.
- Farmers are receiving prices for grain and lentils that are a fraction of last year's values.
- Alternative export routes through Danube ports and Romania's Constanta are congested and also face Russian attacks.
Farmers in Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, are facing significant challenges in selling their harvest due to intensified Russian assaults on Black Sea ports. Volodymyr Varbanets, a 76-year-old farmer, reported an unusually good harvest this year, but the grain remains unsold because the maritime corridor to the Greater Odesa ports is effectively blocked by Russian attacks.
Since mid-July, Russia has escalated attacks on port infrastructure, creating a 'maritime kill zone' that deters commercial shipping. Dmytro Barinov, president of Ukrport, described the situation as 'ship hunting,' noting a drastic reduction in vessel arrivals. Container lines have suspended calls, and even bulk carriers are increasingly hesitant to enter the ports due to safety concerns, despite higher pay offers for crews.
The impact on exports is severe. Between August 1 and August 26, Ukraine exported only about one-third of its potential agricultural volume, with grain exports at one-fifth of capacity. Farmers like Varbanets are forced to sell their produce at drastically reduced prices, often operating at a loss given rising costs for diesel, fertilizer, and spare parts.
While Ukraine has alternative export routes, such as the Danube ports of Izmail and Reni, these are smaller, more expensive, and also subject to Russian attacks. Congestion at these ports and at Romania's Constanta port further complicates export efforts, highlighting the critical reliance on the deep-water ports of Greater Odesa.