Logistics for the export of the new corn harvest have already been booked until the end of the year

Ukrainian farmers, agricultural holdings and traders are actively contracting new-crop corn, with logistics capacity on some routes already effectively booked through the end of 2026. Significant volumes of the upcoming crop have already been contracted, increasing competition for available routes and transshipment capacity.

The situation remains particularly tight on European routes. While railway infrastructure repairs in Slovenia had previously been one of the main bottlenecks affecting shipments to Italy, logistics constraints are now also being reported on routes to Germany and the Netherlands.

Market participants are actively booking rail capacity and transshipment slots well in advance. As a result, opportunities for spot corn sales are becoming more limited, while logistics availability is emerging as one of the key factors shaping new-crop trade.

Corn contracting for delivery in Q1 2027 is expected to become more active in the coming months. With logistics capacity limited, traders and producers are having to plan shipments and secure export capacity increasingly far in advance.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian corn prices mostly declined last week. DAP western border prices fell to around €190/t. Buying activity at deep-water ports remains low, while demand at Danube ports persists but is constrained by high logistics risks and the possibility of shipment disruptions.

Tags: logistics, Ukraine, corn, export