More than 80 railcars with Moldovan grain remain idle at Reni port

At least 83 railcars carrying Moldovan grain have been sitting at Reni port for nearly a month because they cannot be unloaded due to a lack of vessels. Moldova’s grain exporters association Agrocereale has asked Moldovan Railways to review its approach to demurrage charges.

As of September 9, demurrage charges for just two member companies had reached around $40.5 thsd and were continuing to rise. According to Agrocereale, other exporters are facing similar problems.

The delays are attributed to security risks in southern Ukraine. Some shipowners are refusing to call at Reni or are redirecting vessels to other ports, leaving traders unable to unload grain from railcars and return the rolling stock to Moldova.

Agrocereale estimates that more than 100 CFM railcars carrying grain may currently be idle at Reni. This is a significant volume for Moldova’s rail fleet, while the prolonged removal of wagons from circulation reduces the capacity of the country’s export logistics.

The association proposes distinguishing between delays caused by operators and those resulting from external circumstances. Possible solutions include deferring or partially adjusting charges and creating a dedicated crisis mechanism for international shipments through the Danube.

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Tags: grain, Moldova, Reni Terminal, rail transportation