Over 8 million tons of Ukrainian grain transited Port of Constanța in the first 7 months of 2023

Ukraine transported 8.1 million tons of grain through Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta in the first seven months of the year, the port authority told Reuters.

The pace of transport slowed sharply after Russia attacked infrastructure at Ukraine’s inland ports near the border with Romania. The Danube River is the last waterway through which Ukraine can export grain, after access to its Black Sea ports was cut off when Russia pulled out of a UN-Turkey-brokered Safe Passage Corridor deal in mid-July.

Since then, Russia has attacked the Danube ports several times. Constanța port data showed 8.1 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain left the port in the first seven months, up from 7.5 million tonnes at the end of June.

Ukraine turned to its Danube river ports after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal.

River ports, which accounted for about a quarter of grain exports, have since become the main exit route for Ukrainian grain, which is sent on barges to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanța for onward shipment.

Russia has attacked several times in recent weeks the ports of Izmail and Reni on the Danube, the last time on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, with a wave of kamikaze drones.