Russian port strikes drive Ukrainian grain logistics costs up $50 per metric ton

Ukrainian grain exporters are facing a $50 increase in logistics costs per metric ton since port loading ceased, with the rise potentially reaching $70 compared to pre-closure levels, Agriculture and Food Minister Taras Vysotskyi reported. Although alternative export routes are still available, the suspension of port operations has made grain transportation more expensive, according to Vysotskyi.

The ministry emphasized that the situation will help stabilize market prices. Russia has targeted civilian vessels stranded in Mykolaiv Oblast ports since launching its invasion in 2022, leaving them trapped without any commercial voyages. Ukrzaliznytsia has also restricted freight shipments to rail stations serving Odesa Oblast ports.

The UN has cautioned that Russia's attacks on Black Sea ports could jeopardize food security. The Pivdennyi Mining and Processing Plant in Kryvyi Rih and Ferrexpo have halted mining and seaborne shipments of iron ore pellets due to Russian attacks on civilian merchant vessels. The suspension of grain exports through Odesa ports has already driven domestic wheat prices down to one-third of their previous levels, forcing farmers to sell grain directly from their trucks at 3,000 hryvnias per metric ton.

The Ukrainian Agrarian Council is urging the prime minister to introduce emergency measures due to the port closures, damaged berths, export restrictions, and high fuel costs that could lead to farming bankruptcies. The National Bank of Ukraine has also assessed the economic impact of Russia's port strikes, projecting a potential 52 million metric tons of exports in the 2026–27 season if Odesa ports resume operations.