Russia’s grain exports fell 38% in July due to port attacks

Russia exported 2.026 mln tons of major grains in July 2026, down 37.6% from the same month a year earlier. Wheat exports declined by 17.7% to 1.8 mln tons, according to the Russian Grain Union’s market monitoring.

Corn exports dropped to 146.3 thsd tons from 521.4 thsd tons a year earlier, while barley exports fell to 101.4 thsd tons from 567 thsd tons. Average daily grain shipments decreased to 65.4 thsd tons compared with 104.8 thsd tons in July 2025.

According to the Grain Union, the sharp decline was mainly caused by disruptions to maritime logistics in the Azov-Black Sea basin. The steepest drop occurred during the third ten-day period of July, when total grain exports fell 61.3% year on year to 685 thsd tons, while wheat shipments declined 55.5% to 646.5 thsd tons. In response, Russia’s Transport Ministry established a special coordination task force, while port infrastructure in Taman was reportedly damaged in a drone attack.

Russian wheat was shipped to 23 countries in July, compared with 27 a year earlier. Egypt remained the largest buyer, although deliveries fell by 31.7% to 344 thsd tons. At the same time, exports to several African countries increased, including Kenya (up nearly 1.8 times to 194.5 thsd tons), Sudan (up 31% to 177 thsd tons), as well as Tanzania, Nigeria, Libya, Somalia, Angola and the UAE.

The logistics disruptions also affected port operations. Grain exports were handled through only 21 ports in July, compared with 38 a year earlier. Novorossiysk remained Russia’s largest grain export hub, although shipments there declined by 23.7% to just over 1 mln tons. Exports via Rostov-on-Don fell 3.7-fold, while shipments through Taman increased by 7% despite the security challenges.

Despite the decline in export volumes, Russian wheat remains price-competitive on the global market. As of August 1, FOB Novorossiysk prices stood at about $232 per ton, giving Russian wheat a $35-per-ton discount to European wheat. However, analysts say geopolitical risks and ongoing shipping disruptions are increasingly affecting export contracts and could further reduce Russia’s grain exports during the 2026/27 season.

Tags: grain, barley, wheat, ports, restrictions, war, Russia, corn, export