In March, Ukraine’s grain exports dipped to approximately 5.2 million metric tons, down from 5.8 million tons in February, according to data from the agriculture ministry released on Monday. While the ministry did not provide a specific reason for the decrease, the UCAB Ukrainian farm business association attributed the decline to various factors.
These included interruptions at seaports due to Russian forces shelling southern Ukraine and protests in Poland blocking land exports. Throughout the 2023/24 July-June marketing season, Ukraine’s grain exports have totaled around 34.9 million tons, a decrease from 38 million tons in the previous year.
Notable exports this season have comprised 13.8 million tons of wheat, 18.8 million tons of corn, and 1.96 million tons of barley. The UCAB reported that a total of 7.2 million tons of agricultural products were exported from Ukraine in March, marking a 10.2% decrease from the previous month. This figure included 445,300 tons of oilseeds and 651,100 tons of vegetable oils. Factors contributing to the March decline, as highlighted by the UCAB, encompassed high export volumes in preceding months, diminishing carry-over stocks, and subdued global market prices for grains and oilseeds.
Ukraine traditionally exports the majority of its grain through Black Sea ports with deep water access. The Ukrainian government anticipates a grain and oilseed harvest of 81.3 million tons in 2023, with an exportable surplus projected at approximately 50 million tons for the 2023/24 period.