Ukrainian grain exports explained
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian exports of grain have been severely disrupted. For over four months, Russian military vessels blocked Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.
Between July 2022 and July 2023, there was an agreement between the United Nations, Türkiye and Russia to allow exports via a safe maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea (the Black Sea Grain Initiative). Over 1 000 ships full of grain and other foodstuffs left Ukraine from three Ukrainian ports (Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi) during the implementation of the initiative.
On 17 July 2023, Russia announced its decision to end the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
What was exported through the Black Sea Grain Initiative?
As of July 2023, almost 33 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs had been exported via the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Over 50% of the cargo was maize, the grain most affected by blockages in Ukrainian granaries at the beginning of the war. It had to be moved quickly to make space for wheat from the summer harvest.
What was exported through the Black Sea Grain Initiative?
Pie chart showing the share of various grains in exports via the Black Sea Grain Initiative (rounded):
- Maize: 51%
- Wheat: 27%
- Sunflower products: 11%
- Others: 10%
Where was Ukrainian grain shipped to?
65% of the wheat exported through the Black Sea Grain Initiative reached developing countries. Maize was exported almost equally to developed and developing countries.
Share of grain export by country wealth
Set of two pie charts showing the destinations of wheat and maize exported under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
65% of the wheat was exported to developing countries and 35% to developed countries.
For maize, the proportion was almost equal: 51% was exported to developing countries and 49% to developed countries.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP – the largest humanitarian organisation in the world) also shipped wheat from Black Sea ports. As of July 2023, the programme had bought 80% of its grain stock from Ukraine, up from 50% before the war. Over 725 000 tonnes of wheat left Ukrainian ports to Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti during the implementation of the initiative.
Share of export by commodity and country wealth
Alluvial chart showing the share of various grains and the destinations of total exports via the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Wheat exported to developing countries represented 17.6% of the total grain exports, while wheat sent to developed countries accounted for 9.5%.
Maize exported to developing countries represented 26.4% of the total grain exports, while maize sent to developed countries accounted for 24.5%.
Sunflower products exported to developing countries represented 9.2% of the total grain exports, and those exported to developed countries 2.2%.
The EU is a major global producer and exporter of wheat. It is estimated that the EU exported 31 million tonnes of wheat in the marketing year 2022/23. Destination countries include Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria.
How have food prices changed because of the war?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a significant increase in food prices on global markets. Grain prices have risen particularly sharply.
Both solidarity lanes (routes created by the EU to help Ukraine export its agricultural products, among other products) and the Black Sea Grain Initiative have notably contributed to lowering prices.
Line chart showing how the prices of grain and wheat changed between January 2021 and August 2023, based on the indices of the International Grains Council. The prices increased significantly around the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and remained high until May 2022. At the end of May, solidarity lanes were established, and from that point prices began to drop. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was launched in July 2022. Prices began to grow slightly in September and October 2022, but fell again in November and December 2022. Since then prices have continued to gradually decrease, with some fluctuations. But when Russia announced in July 2023 that it pulled out of the initiative prices rose again. Price uncertainty remains.
Keeping Ukrainian grain flowing remains crucial for global food security.