UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Secretary-General’s office raised concerns on Thursday over a significant slowdown in Ukraine’s grain exports across the Black Sea, citing the potential for food inflation, as Russia demands better treatment of its own agricultural products.
The Black Sea Initiative, a crucial agreement signed in July 2022 by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations, which allowed Ukrainian grain to reach the global market despite Russia’s invasion, was renewed in May but only for a two-month period until July 17.
Moscow is seeking guarantees for another agreement concerning its own exports, specifically related to fertilizer components. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed concern about the continuous slowdown in the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, particularly in April and May.
Grain Export from Ukraine
Dujarric noted that in May, only 33 vessels departed from Ukrainian ports, which is half the number compared to April. Furthermore, only three of those vessels departed from the port of Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, one of the three Ukrainian ports covered in the Initiative.
The slowdown at the Yuzhny/Pivdennyi port is linked to Russian demands for the freeing up of its own exports of fertilizer components, despite strict sanctions imposed on Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Russia has informed about its decision to limit registrations to the Yuzhny/Pivdennyi port until ammonia, an essential chemical component of mineral fertilizer, is exported.
Dujarric highlighted that the slowdown has also been caused by a reduction in ship inspections for grain cargoes, with only an average of three ships being inspected each day. This situation is deemed serious, as global hunger hotspots are increasing, and the prospect of food inflation and market volatility looms over all countries. Dujarric emphasized the need to address the situation promptly and move forward.
