Ukraine exported 3 million tons of agricultural products in July, bypassing its seaports, most of which were blockaded by Russia, the union of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises UCAB announced today.
In a statement on Facebook, the association said agricultural exports last month rose 12 percent from June, while grain exports rose 21 percent to 1,7 million tons.
UCAB said that while exports from the Black Sea ports of Chornomorsk, Odessa and Pivdeni are made possible under the safe transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, the rest of its ports remain under a Russian blockade .
"Only with the full operation of these three seaports and the full use of the alternative routes can we hope that the volume of exports will be as it was before the start of ... the Russian invasion," UCAB said.
Before the February 24 invasion, Ukraine exported up to 6 million tons of grain each month, according to UCAB.
Today, based on the provisions of the safe transit agreement, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain destined for foreign markets left the port of Odessa.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a global food and energy crisis, with the United Nations warning of the risk of famine this year.
Russia and Ukraine together accounted for about a third of world wheat exports before the invasion and subsequent sanctions.
Source: RES-EAP