Port blockade leaves southern Ukrainian farmers without storage for new crop

The suspension of seaborne exports has led to grain storage facilities filling up across southern Ukraine. A significant share of wheat that was supposed to be exported through Black Sea ports remains in storage, while farmers are already preparing to harvest sunflower seed and other late-season crops.

Mykolaiv region farmer Bohdan Lukianchuk said his storage facilities are almost completely filled with wheat that was supposed to be shipped to African countries several weeks ago. Under normal export conditions, part of the grain would already have been sold, freeing up storage capacity for sunflower seed, which is due to be harvested shortly.

The inability to sell grain is also worsening farms’ financial position. Farmers are facing shortages of working capital needed to purchase diesel fuel, pay taxes and wages, buy seeds and fertilizers, repair machinery and prepare for the next planting campaign.

A similar situation is developing across many farms in southern Ukraine. Odesa region agribusiness owner Oleksandr Chumak said some producers are already being forced to store grain outdoors because of insufficient storage capacity. The arrival of the new crop could further aggravate the problem.

Southern Ukraine, where harvesting starts earlier, is currently feeling the effects of the seaborne export shutdown most severely. However, farmers expect the storage crisis to gradually spread to central and western regions as harvesting progresses.

Tags: Ukraine, grain storage, blocking ports