More than 1.7M tonnes of food already exported from Ukrainian ports

More than 1.72 million tonnes of foodstuffs have already been exported from three Ukrainian ports, which became operational thanks to the grain initiative.

"Since August 1, when the implementation of the grain initiative began, 1.72 million tonnes of agricultural products have been shipped from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi. A total of 68 ships left the unblocked ports in August bound for the ports of destination in 18 world countries," the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

"The first month of the initiative shows how critical it is to our economy and global food security. In August alone, more than 1.7 million tonnes of foodstuffs were exported through the ports Odesa region. Over the same period, almost 1.6 million tonnes were exported through the Danube ports, about a million tonnes – by rail, and over 600,000 tonnes – by road. Already in September, we expect to reach the rate of transshipment through unblocked sea ports at the level of at least 3 million tonnes of products. We plan to export at least 8 million tonnes by all modes of transport," said Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The Ministry notes that about 5 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported through the unblocked ports and Danube ports, by rail, and by road in August. This is a record figure since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

As reported, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Kitack Lim discussed the expansion of the grain initiative to cover other categories of Ukrainian exports.

Ukraine, Turkey, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signed the initiative on the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomors,k and Pivdennyi in Istanbul on July 22.