Traders suspended grain purchases due to Russian attacks on ships, — Ukrport

Targeted Russian attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea have called into question further sea shipments and forced traders to suspend purchases of agricultural products.

This was told to USM by Dmitry Barinov, president of the Ukrport association.

According to him, in July Russia changed its approach to attacks on maritime logistics. In addition to port infrastructure, ships that are in ports, entering them or going out to sea have been attacked.

As a result, shipowners, captains and crews primarily assess the threat to life when making decisions, while the level of freight and possible income have receded into the background.

Barinov called the attack with three missiles on a ship with corn, which later sank, a demonstration. Ten people died as a result of the attack. According to him, this incident significantly affected market sentiment.

Previously, traders could purchase grain and send it to ports, counting on a regular rotation of ships and cargo. Now they are not sure that they will be able to ship the products by sea and that the cargo or terminal will not be attacked.

“Now there is no such certainty. And this is the main problem – shipments by sea have actually come into question,” Barinov noted.

Read the full interview with Ukrport President Dmytro Barinov at the link.