After Russia stepped up strikes on deep-water ports this summer, exports of Ukrainian agricultural products via this route have effectively come to a halt.
Overall, Ukraine’s agricultural sector has been export-oriented over the past two decades, especially in previous years. By macro indicator, 70% goes for export, Agriculture and Food Minister Taras Vysotskyi said at an event organised by LB and EFI Group.
The domestic market accounts for 30% of the entire sector’s output, and for grains and oilseeds it is 25%. For almost 20 years, investment has gone into developing port infrastructure to support exports.
“In effect, the sector is focused on maritime exports. In 2021, that was 90% of everything, including container shipments and others. In different years the percentages varied, but in June 2026 it was 80% across all product groups, and 90% for grains, oilseeds and processed products,” he said.
Because of the full-scale war, exports are being carried out through a far smaller number of ports. Mainly through the Black Sea deep-water ports in Odesa region.
“We can state that since August there has been none — some vessels were still leaving, but in practice there has been no full-scale, regular export of agricultural products from Ukraine’s deep-water ports since August. It is absent,” the minister said.
By the end of September, it was possible to export up to 50% of the required volumes via other routes, not through deep-water ports. Over 27 days in October, 47% was exported. Provided there are no additional force majeure events, export capacity will remain at 45–50%.
Context
Since this summer, Russia has deliberately been disrupting the operation of Ukrainian ports, attacking both infrastructure and vessels. Sailors have repeatedly been killed in the attacks, including foreign nationals.
In July, the Russians attacked seaports 67 times. Attacks on ports are continuing: the enemy struck them again this month.