Baltic states discuss joint controls on Russian grain transit through ports

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are discussing a coordinated approach to controlling grain transit from Russia and Belarus through the Baltic states. Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said he had already discussed the issue with his Latvian counterpart. Lithuanian authorities stressed that such cargoes would not be allowed to pass through the port of Klaipėda without checks.

Lithuania’s Agriculture Ministry has ordered checks on the origin of all grain transiting from Russia and Belarus, including both food-grade and feed grain. Last week, samples were taken from one grain shipment at the port of Klaipėda, with its origin expected to be determined by a foreign laboratory.

Lithuania is also considering moving grain sampling from the port of Klaipėda directly to its borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region. This would allow shipments to be checked before reaching the port and free up port capacity for exports of grain produced by Lithuanian farmers.

The Baltic states plan to coordinate methods for determining grain origin, while Lithuania also intends to raise the issue at the EU level. The controls could eventually be extended to other food products, including edible oils.

The issue has gained attention as part of Russia’s grain exports are increasingly being redirected toward Baltic routes. Latvia is also considering additional measures for cargoes from Russia and Belarus and supports developing a common Baltic approach to the use of regional port and transport infrastructure.

Tags: rail transportation, Russia, grain, Belarus, grain transportation, Latvia, Estonia, Klaipeda, Lithuania