According to data from the Ukrainian agriculture ministry, the country’s waterborne food exports declined by 17.1% during the first 15 days of May, falling to 2.9 million metric tons from 3.5 million tons in the same period in April.
The ministry’s data showed that the May 1-15 export volume included 1.6 million tons of corn, 735,258 tons of wheat, 191,577 tons of sunflower oil, 181,577 tons of meals, and 123,489 tons of barley.
In comparison, Ukraine’s maritime food exports in the first half of April totaled 2.95 million tons, indicating the fluctuations in monthly volumes.
The ministry noted that corn continued to dominate Ukraine’s food shipments, accounting for the largest share of exports in both early May and the first half of April.
While waterborne exports declined in early May, Ukraine’s total agricultural exports for the 2023/24 July-June season reached 44.2 million tons as of May 17, surpassing the 43.9 million tons exported a season earlier.
The data also showed that Ukraine exported just 59,507 tons of agricultural products by road in the first half of May, with sunflower oil being the primary commodity.
The variations in Ukraine’s monthly food export volumes highlight the logistical challenges and operational constraints the country continues to face since the Russian invasion disrupted its agricultural supply chains.
Despite the month-to-month fluctuations, Ukraine remains a critical global supplier of grains and oilseeds. However, the shifting export patterns and transportation modes underscore the ongoing volatility in the country’s food trade as it navigates the impacts of the war.