Council of the European Union

01/18/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/18/2023 06:56

Ukrainian grain exports explained

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian exports of grain have been severely disrupted. For over four months, Russian military vessels have been blocking Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

On 22 July 2022, an agreement was brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye to open a safe maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea (the Black Sea Grain Initiative). Since then, over 600 ships full of grain and other foodstuffs have left three Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.

While unblocking the sea export route has helped to address the global food security crisis and lower grain prices, the export backlogs remain significant.

What has been exported so far?

As of 17 January 2023, over17 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported via the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

46% of the cargo was maize, the grain most affected by blockages in Ukrainian granaries at the beginning of the war (75% of the 20 million tonnes of grain stored). It had to be moved quickly to make space for wheat from the summer harvest.

What has been exported through the Black Sea Grain Initiative?

Data as of 17 January 2023

Text version

Pie chart showing share of various grains in exports via Black Sea Grain Initiative:

  • Maize: 46%
  • Wheat: 28%
  • Sunflower products 13%
  • Others: 13%

Where is Ukrainian grain shipped to?

65% of wheat exported through the Black Sea Grain Initiative reached developing countries. Maize, on the other hand, is exported almost equally to developed and developing countries.

Share of grain export by country wealth

Text version

Set of two pie charts showing destination of wheat and maize exported under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

65% of wheat has been exported to developing countries and 35% to developed countries.

For maize, the proportion is almost half-half: 48% has been exported to developing countries and 52% to developed countries.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP - the largest humanitarian organisation in the world) has restarted shipping wheat from Black Sea ports. Before the war, the WFP bought half of its grain stock from Ukraine. So far, 13 ships carrying a total of over 380 000 tonnes of wheat have left Ukrainian ports en route to Ethiopia, Yemen, Djibouti, Somalia and Afghanistan.

The EU is a major global producer and exporter of wheat. In 2022, according to estimates, the EU exported around 36 million tonnes of soft wheat. Destination countries include Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Share of export by commodity and destination

Text version

Alluvial chart showing share of various grains and destinations of total exports via the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Wheat that has been exported to developing countries represents 17.9% of total grain exports, while wheat sent to developed countries accounts for 9.9%.

Maize that has been exported to developing countries represents 22.3% of total exports, while maize sent to developed countries accounts for 24.1% of total exports.

Sunflower products exported to developing countries represent 9.8% of total exports and those exported to developed countries 3.1%.

How have food prices changed because of the war?

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused a significant increase of food prices on global markets. The prices of grains have risen particularly sharply.

Both solidarity lanes (routes created by the EU to help Ukraine export its agricultural products) and the Black Sea Grain Initiative have notably contributed to lowering prices.

Text version

Line chart showing how prices of wheat and maize have changed between January 2021 and December 2022. Prices of both grains grew heavily around the date of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and maintained high levels until May 2022. In the end of May, solidarity lanes were established and since then the prices started to drop. In July, the Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched. In September and October 2022, the prices started to slightly grow, but dropped again in November and December 2022.

Maintaining Ukrainian grain flow remains crucial for ensuring global food security.

See all infographics