Around 1.5 mln tonnes of food have left Ukraine under grain export deal

The Panama-flagged bulk provider ship, the Navi Star arrives at Foynes Port delivering 33,000 tonnes of Ukrainian corn to Eire after departing Odessa following the formation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, in Foynes, Eire August 20, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Picture

KYIV, Aug 30 (Reuters) – A complete of 61 cargo ships carrying round 1.5 million tonnes of meals have left Ukraine beneath a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to unblock Ukrainian sea ports, the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry mentioned on Tuesday.

The ministry mentioned six ships with 183,000 tonnes of agricultural merchandise left Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Tuesday.

Ukrainian grain merchants union UGA mentioned in a separate assertion on Tuesday that corn dominated the general export quantity, accounting for 62%.

Wheat accounted for 17% and barley for six%. Ukraine has additionally exported rapeseed, sunseed, soybean and different commodities.

Ukraine’s grain exports slumped after Russia invaded the nation on Feb. 24 and blockaded its Black Sea ports, driving up international meals costs and prompting fears of shortages in Africa and the Center East.

Three Black Sea ports have been reopened beneath a deal signed on July 22 by Moscow and Kyiv and the ministry mentioned these ports are capable of load and ship overseas 100-150 cargo ships per thirty days.

Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky informed Reuters on Monday that the nation’s agricultural exports may rise to six million-6.5 million tonnes in October, double the quantity in July, as its sea ports progressively reopen. read more

Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; modifying by Barbara Lewis, Kirsten Donovan

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