Ukraine has already exported 16M tonnes of agricultural products within grain initiative

About 600 ships have already left Ukrainian ports and 16 million tonnes of agricultural products have been exported within the framework of grain initiative.

"About 600 ships have already left Ukrainian ports, 16 million tonnes of agricultural products have been exported. But the potential is not fully realized as the aggressor state is unwilling to actively inspect ships in the Bosphorus," said First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi, the Ministry’s press service informs.

It is noted that now the passage volume is three to four times less than the infrastructure capacity of the three large ports of Odesa region. That is why negotiations continue at a high state level, primarily with the UN and Turkey, to find a solution to this situation.

If found, tens of millions of people will get the needed foodstuffs in time. The solution is also important for the Ukrainian farmers because it will significantly reduce logistics costs, giving Ukrainian farmers a higher price so they will have more opportunities to start the spring sowing campaign in time.

As reported, from December 12 to 18, 514,800 tonnes of agricultural products were exported through the sea ports of Odesa region via the grain corridor.

In Istanbul on November 17, Ukraine, the United Nations, and Turkey agreed to extend the initiative for the safe transportation of agricultural products across the Black Sea for another 120 days. It started working on July 22, and the first ship with Ukrainian foodstuffs within its framework left the port of Odesa on August 1.

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