Sixteen vessels sail through Bystre Canal to be loaded with Ukrainian grain

As of July 12, 2022, a total of 16 merchant ships sailed through the Bystre Canal to be loaded with Ukrainian-produced grain.

The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry on Facebook.

"Over the past four days, a total of 16 vessels have sailed through the Bystre Canal. We are planning to keep up the pace. The restoration of navigation through this canal is an important step, which will also allow us to unload the Sulina branch and speed up grain exports. Unfortunately, at the moment the canal's waterway capacity and organization of work allow us to receive only four vessels, while we need at least eight vessels per day," Ukrainian Infrastructure Deputy Minister Yurii Vaskov told.

In his words, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry is holding talks with Romanian counterparts and the representatives of the European Commission to increase the number of vessel calls through the Sulina branch.

According to the ministry, due to the blockade of Ukrainian sea ports, which used to handle about 80% of Ukraine's agricultural exports before the Russian invasion started, food products are exported from Ukraine via the Danube ports, railway and road checkpoints at the western borders now.

Their capacity is not enough to fully replace the sea ports. In June 2022, about 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported via the available logistic routes. Meanwhile, the monthly demand for such exports is 8 million tonnes.