Falling prices halt grain shipments through Ukraine’s western border

Grain shipments through Ukraine’s western border crossings have slowed significantly due to falling purchase prices. According to Hordii Mishchenko, head of the Chornotysiv Terminal, traders have reduced grain purchase prices by €15–20/t, prompting grain owners to temporarily hold back sales while waiting for more favorable market conditions.

At the same time, following the latest Russian attacks on the port infrastructure of Greater Odesa, part of the grain flow has begun shifting toward Ukraine’s western border. The Chornotysiv Terminal is already accumulating grain that had originally been scheduled for export through seaports, although further shipments have been postponed for the time being.

According to Mishchenko, the terminal has already secured transshipment orders for the 2026/27 marketing year and is operating according to pre-arranged schedules. While requests to export grain via the western corridor were previously occasional, they are now becoming increasingly systematic.

Meanwhile, market participants report that shipments to the ports of Greater Odesa have effectively come to a standstill following damage to several grain terminals. According to one market source, deliveries to seaports have virtually stopped, while traders are revising their grain purchasing programs.

Experts believe that uncertainty surrounding maritime exports could persist for up to three weeks. Market participants note that logistics will largely depend on the security situation: shipments will continue whenever conditions allow, but it is currently impossible to predict when export routes will return to stable operations.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, prices, logistics, war