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| How is Ukraine exporting its grain now the Black Sea deal is over? | How is Ukraine exporting its grain now the Black Sea deal is over? |
| (1 day later) | |
| Ships carrying grain are once again sailing from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, despite Russia ending a deal to allow them to pass safely through the sea. | |
| The two cargo ships took a new route, close to the western coast. | |
| The deal had allowed Ukraine to export large amounts of grain around the world, but Russia ended it in July. | |
| What was the grain deal? | What was the grain deal? |
| Ukraine is one of world's biggest suppliers of crops such as sunflower oil, barley, maize and wheat. | Ukraine is one of world's biggest suppliers of crops such as sunflower oil, barley, maize and wheat. |
| When Russia invaded in February 2022, its navy blockaded the country's Black Sea ports, trapping 20 million tonnes of grain, which were meant for export. | When Russia invaded in February 2022, its navy blockaded the country's Black Sea ports, trapping 20 million tonnes of grain, which were meant for export. |
| This caused world food prices to soar and threatened to create shortages in Middle Eastern and African countries, which imported significant amounts of food from Ukraine. | This caused world food prices to soar and threatened to create shortages in Middle Eastern and African countries, which imported significant amounts of food from Ukraine. |
| In July 2022, a deal was struck between Russia and Ukraine - brokered by Turkey and the UN - allowing cargo ships to sail along a corridor in the Black Sea. | In July 2022, a deal was struck between Russia and Ukraine - brokered by Turkey and the UN - allowing cargo ships to sail along a corridor in the Black Sea. |
| The corridor, which was 310 nautical miles (357 miles; 574km) in length and three nautical miles wide, ran to and from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. | The corridor, which was 310 nautical miles (357 miles; 574km) in length and three nautical miles wide, ran to and from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. |
| It also allowed the Russian navy to check ships for weapons at the Bosphorus Strait at the entrance to the Black Sea. | It also allowed the Russian navy to check ships for weapons at the Bosphorus Strait at the entrance to the Black Sea. |
| Almost 33 million tonnes of grain were shipped from Ukraine under the deal, and world food prices declined by roughly 20% as a result, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. | Almost 33 million tonnes of grain were shipped from Ukraine under the deal, and world food prices declined by roughly 20% as a result, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. |
| However, since Russia pulled out of the deal, world grain prices have risen again, according to the UN's food price index. | However, since Russia pulled out of the deal, world grain prices have risen again, according to the UN's food price index. |
| Where did Ukraine's grain go? | Where did Ukraine's grain go? |
| According to the UN's Joint Coordination Centre, 57% of the foodstuffs exported from Ukraine under the deal went to developing countries, and 43% to developed countries. | According to the UN's Joint Coordination Centre, 57% of the foodstuffs exported from Ukraine under the deal went to developing countries, and 43% to developed countries. |
| The biggest recipients were China, Spain, Turkey and Italy. | The biggest recipients were China, Spain, Turkey and Italy. |
| Russia cited Ukraine's failure to export more grain to poorer countries as one of the reasons it pulled out of the deal. | Russia cited Ukraine's failure to export more grain to poorer countries as one of the reasons it pulled out of the deal. |
| However, the UN says that Ukraine has supplied 725,000 tonnes of grain to the World Food Programme (WFP), which was sent as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. | However, the UN says that Ukraine has supplied 725,000 tonnes of grain to the World Food Programme (WFP), which was sent as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. |
| The EU said that while the deal was in place, Ukraine supplied the WFP with more than 80% of all its grain, compared to 50% before the war. | The EU said that while the deal was in place, Ukraine supplied the WFP with more than 80% of all its grain, compared to 50% before the war. |
| The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called Russia's cancellation of the grain deal an "act of cruelty". | The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called Russia's cancellation of the grain deal an "act of cruelty". |
| It is estimated that more than 50 million people across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan are currently in need of food aid because of successive years of failed rains. | It is estimated that more than 50 million people across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan are currently in need of food aid because of successive years of failed rains. |
| Russia's grain deal exit stab in the back - Kenya | Russia's grain deal exit stab in the back - Kenya |
| What has happened since the grain deal ended? | What has happened since the grain deal ended? |
| The grain deal expired on 17 July. | The grain deal expired on 17 July. |
| Since then, Russia has launched a series of air attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, destroying thousands of tonnes of grain. | Since then, Russia has launched a series of air attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, destroying thousands of tonnes of grain. |
| Watch: Footage shows the impact of attack on Odesa grain terminals | Watch: Footage shows the impact of attack on Odesa grain terminals |
| Watch: Footage shows the impact of attack on Odesa grain terminals | Watch: Footage shows the impact of attack on Odesa grain terminals |
| The Russian defence ministry says it regards all cargo ships in the Black Sea bound for Ukraine as potential military targets. | The Russian defence ministry says it regards all cargo ships in the Black Sea bound for Ukraine as potential military targets. |
| This has deterred most grain ships from going to Ukraine's ports. | This has deterred most grain ships from going to Ukraine's ports. |
| As one of the architects of the grain deal, Turkey has tried to persuade Russia to rejoin it. | As one of the architects of the grain deal, Turkey has tried to persuade Russia to rejoin it. |
| However, President Putin said that would only happen if Western nations relaxed sanctions on Russian exports. | However, President Putin said that would only happen if Western nations relaxed sanctions on Russian exports. |
| Why did Russia refuse to renew the grain deal? | Why did Russia refuse to renew the grain deal? |
| When the UN brokered the deal, it told Russia it would help to increase the country's exports of grain and fertilisers. | When the UN brokered the deal, it told Russia it would help to increase the country's exports of grain and fertilisers. |
| Although Western countries have not imposed specific sanctions on Russia's agricultural products, Moscow says the broader restrictions which are in place have deterred shipping firms, international banks and insurers from dealing with its producers. | Although Western countries have not imposed specific sanctions on Russia's agricultural products, Moscow says the broader restrictions which are in place have deterred shipping firms, international banks and insurers from dealing with its producers. |
| Russia asked for its state-owned agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, to be reconnected to the Swift fast payment system (from which all Russian banks were barred in June 2022). | Russia asked for its state-owned agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, to be reconnected to the Swift fast payment system (from which all Russian banks were barred in June 2022). |
| The UN suggested that Russia set up a subsidiary of the bank, which would be allowed to use Swift - but Russia rejected the plan. | The UN suggested that Russia set up a subsidiary of the bank, which would be allowed to use Swift - but Russia rejected the plan. |
| Other proposed schemes, such as processing payments for food and fertiliser through the US bank JPMorgan Chase, or through the African Export-Import Bank, also fell through. | Other proposed schemes, such as processing payments for food and fertiliser through the US bank JPMorgan Chase, or through the African Export-Import Bank, also fell through. |
| How is Ukraine exporting its grain now? | How is Ukraine exporting its grain now? |
| This September, two ships have left a Ukrainian port on the Black Sea, carrying grain. | This September, two ships have left a Ukrainian port on the Black Sea, carrying grain. |
| The first was a small cargo vessel called Resilient Africa, and the second was a full-size vessel called the Aroyat. | The first was a small cargo vessel called Resilient Africa, and the second was a full-size vessel called the Aroyat. |
| Both ships took a route around the western coast of the Black Sea, through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters, so they could be safe from Russian warships. | Both ships took a route around the western coast of the Black Sea, through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters, so they could be safe from Russian warships. |
| This route was previously used as a humanitarian corridor, to allow a passage for empty ships, which had been trapped in Ukraine's Black Sea ports since the start of the conflict. | This route was previously used as a humanitarian corridor, to allow a passage for empty ships, which had been trapped in Ukraine's Black Sea ports since the start of the conflict. |
| Ukraine has also been exporting an increasing amount of grain from Reni and Izmail, on the Danube river. | Ukraine has also been exporting an increasing amount of grain from Reni and Izmail, on the Danube river. |
| The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) says 65% of Ukraine's grain exports are now going from these ports. | The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) says 65% of Ukraine's grain exports are now going from these ports. |
| The grain is transported by river and canals into the Black Sea, via the Romanian seaports of Sulina and Constanta. | The grain is transported by river and canals into the Black Sea, via the Romanian seaports of Sulina and Constanta. |
| Russia has repeatedly attacked Reni and Izmail with drones to try to disrupt operations. | Russia has repeatedly attacked Reni and Izmail with drones to try to disrupt operations. |
| Ukraine has also been exporting grain to the rest of Europe by road and rail, through neighbouring countries such as Romania and Moldova. | Ukraine has also been exporting grain to the rest of Europe by road and rail, through neighbouring countries such as Romania and Moldova. |
| However, transporting grain this way is more expensive and time-consuming than doing so by sea. | However, transporting grain this way is more expensive and time-consuming than doing so by sea. |
| One problem is that Ukraine's railways have a different gauge to those of EU countries, so every trainload of grain entering the EU has to be physically transferred from one set of wagons to another. | One problem is that Ukraine's railways have a different gauge to those of EU countries, so every trainload of grain entering the EU has to be physically transferred from one set of wagons to another. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Turkey | Turkey |
| Food | Food |