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Why does the world need grain to be shipped from Ukraine? Why does the world need grain to be shipped from Ukraine?
(10 days later)
A deal has been reached to allow cargo ships to take grain from Ukrainian ports to the rest of the world. A ship has left the Ukrainian port of Odesa carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn, bound for Lebanon.
A blockade imposed by Russia has caused soaring food prices and shortages in some of the world's poorest countries. The Sierra Leone-flagged ship, the Razoni, is the first cargo ship to have been able to leave a Ukrainian port since February, when Russian began a naval blockade in the Black Sea.
Ukraine's government says 16 other grain ships with 600,000 tonnes of foodstuffs are waiting to leave ports in and around Odesa in the coming weeks.
The blockade imposed by Russia has caused soaring grain prices and shortages in some of the world's poorest countries.
How much grain is stuck in Ukraine?How much grain is stuck in Ukraine?
About 20m tonnes of grain meant for export are trapped in the country.About 20m tonnes of grain meant for export are trapped in the country.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said this could rise to 75m tonnes after this year's harvest.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said this could rise to 75m tonnes after this year's harvest.
The war also means that this year's harvest will be smaller.The war also means that this year's harvest will be smaller.
As much as 30% of the 86m tonnes of grain Ukraine normally produces will not be harvested, says Laura Wellesley, a food security specialist at think tank Chatham House.As much as 30% of the 86m tonnes of grain Ukraine normally produces will not be harvested, says Laura Wellesley, a food security specialist at think tank Chatham House.
How have grain shortages affected other countries?How have grain shortages affected other countries?
Ukraine is usually the world's fourth-largest grain exporter. It normally produces 42% of the world's sunflower oil, 16% of its maize and 9% of its wheat.Ukraine is usually the world's fourth-largest grain exporter. It normally produces 42% of the world's sunflower oil, 16% of its maize and 9% of its wheat.
In addition, wheat exports from Russia - the world's largest exporter - are down.In addition, wheat exports from Russia - the world's largest exporter - are down.
Western sanctions do not target Russian agriculture, but the Kremlin argues they have hindered exports by hiking insurance rates and affecting payments. Russian ships carrying agricultural products are not barred from EU ports.Western sanctions do not target Russian agriculture, but the Kremlin argues they have hindered exports by hiking insurance rates and affecting payments. Russian ships carrying agricultural products are not barred from EU ports.
Ukraine and Russia usually supply over 40% of Africa's wheat, the African Development Bank says.Ukraine and Russia usually supply over 40% of Africa's wheat, the African Development Bank says.
But the war has led to a shortage of 30 million tonnes of food in Africa, it says. This has contributed to a 40% rise in food prices across the continent.But the war has led to a shortage of 30 million tonnes of food in Africa, it says. This has contributed to a 40% rise in food prices across the continent.
In Nigeria, it has helped increase the price of staples such as pasta and bread by as much as 50%.In Nigeria, it has helped increase the price of staples such as pasta and bread by as much as 50%.
Similarly, Yemen normally imports more than a million tonnes of wheat a year from Ukraine.Similarly, Yemen normally imports more than a million tonnes of wheat a year from Ukraine.
The fall in supplies between January and May saw the price of flour rise by 42% and bread by 25% in Yemen, the UN says.The fall in supplies between January and May saw the price of flour rise by 42% and bread by 25% in Yemen, the UN says.
In Syria, another big importer of Ukrainian wheat, the price of bread has doubled.In Syria, another big importer of Ukrainian wheat, the price of bread has doubled.
International wheat prices have been falling on the news of the deal. Laura Wellesley says that unless a lot of Ukraine's grain is shipped, many countries in the Middle East and Africa will go short.
However, Laura Wellesley says that unless a lot of Ukraine's grain is shipped, many countries in the Middle East and Africa will go short.
"This would push up the price of bread within those countries even further, which would cause a great deal of social unrest," she says."This would push up the price of bread within those countries even further, which would cause a great deal of social unrest," she says.
Cargo ships have been unable to export grain from Ukraine since FebruaryCargo ships have been unable to export grain from Ukraine since February
What's the plan to lift the embargo? How is the blockade being lifted?
Russia and Ukraine have signed "mirror deals" with the UN and Turkey to open up a "maritime corridor" in the Black Sea. Russia and Ukraine signed "mirror deals" with the UN and Turkey, opening up a "maritime corridor" in the Black Sea.
Officials say the plan includes: Officials say this includes:
A corridor from the ports to the Istanbul strait, 310 nautical miles long and three nautical miles wide
Ukrainian vessels guiding grain ships in and out through mined port watersUkrainian vessels guiding grain ships in and out through mined port waters
Russia agreeing to a truce while shipments moveRussia agreeing to a truce while shipments move
Turkey inspecting ships to allay Russian fears of weapons smugglingTurkey inspecting ships to allay Russian fears of weapons smuggling
Russian exports of grain and fertiliser via the Black Sea permittedRussian exports of grain and fertiliser via the Black Sea permitted
Who will insure cargo ships using the sea corridor? Ukraine had been reluctant to clear mines around its ports, fearing that Russia might take advantage and launch a seaborne invasion.
However, says Dr Sidhart Kaushal, Research Fellow in Sea Power at the think tank Rusi, "Ukraine has enough to deter Russia landing troops from the sea."
Who is insuring cargo ships using the sea corridor?
The Razoni already had insurance cover for its journey out of Odesa, says Neil Roberts of insurance industry body Lloyds Market Association..
Insurers will now be deciding what premiums to charge cargo ships which will be entering Odesa and the other ports in future to load up with grain.
"This as being treated as a test voyage, to see whether everything in the deal goes according to plan," says Mr Roberts.
The cost of insuring ships entering the Black Sea soared after Russia invaded Ukraine.The cost of insuring ships entering the Black Sea soared after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Some insurers have charged 5% or 10% of the value of the ship for a single voyage.Some insurers have charged 5% or 10% of the value of the ship for a single voyage.
However, the deal should mean lower costs, says Neil Roberts, of insurance industry body Lloyds Market Association.How much grain is stuck in Ukraine? However, premiums will be lower now the safe corridor deal is in place, says Mr Roberts.
"It gives us hope that the grain can be retrieved from Ukrainian ports and the trade reactivated," he says. "Insurers will be keeping their premiums affordable because this is a humanitarian exercise, not for profit," he says.
How has grain been exported without a safe sea corridor? How was grain been exported before the safe sea corridor?
Before the war, Ukraine sent over 90% of its food exports by sea.Before the war, Ukraine sent over 90% of its food exports by sea.
With its ports blockaded, it has been trying to export as much as it can by land, using trucks and trains. With its ports blockaded, it had tried to export as much as it can by land, using trucks and trains.
The EU is trying to help - setting up "solidarity lanes", so that Ukraine's grain can be shipped from ports on the Baltic Sea, and also from the Romanian port of Constanta. For part of the journey to Constanta, the grain can be transported by barge along the Danube. The EU set up "solidarity lanes", so that Ukraine's grain could be shipped from ports on the Baltic Sea, and also from the Romanian port of Constanta.
However, one major problem is that Ukraine's train tracks are wider than those in the rest of Europe. That means grain be unloaded from one set of wagons at its border and reloaded onto others. For part of the journey to Constanta, the grain could be transported by barge along the Danube.
It has been taking as much as three weeks for grain to cross Europe and reach ports on the Baltic. These may be needed in future. The safe sea corridor deal lasts only 120 days and may not be renewed when it expires.
The Ukrainian Grain Association, a trade body, says only 1.5m tonnes of grain a month at most has been exported.
Before the war, Ukraine had been exporting as much as 7m tonnes of grain a month.
The bottlenecks on routes to export Ukraine grain