Ukraine and Romania are working to increase the export of Ukrainian grain
21.08.2023 - 09:50
Ukraine will develop border infrastructure with Romania in order to strengthen its export potential.
Ukraine is working to restore the operation of the Black Sea corridors for the export of Ukrainian grain and other products, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said in an interview with the Romanian TV channel Digi24.
“We already have a successful example of the operation of such a corridor – the first container ship arrived in Turkey. To strengthen the export potential, Ukraine will involve our partners and actively develop the border infrastructure with Romania, as well as the Danube port cluster,” wrote Shmyhal.
He emphasized that the Russian troops are trying to disrupt the export of Ukrainian food and thereby endanger world food security.
In turn, the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Čolaku, said that approximately 60% of Ukrainian grain exports could transit through Romania after Russia withdrew from the grain agreement.
Even before the grain deal stalled, the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta became Ukraine’s largest alternative shipping route.
In the first seven months of the year, Ukraine shipped 8.1 million tons of grain through Constanta, and a total of 8.6 million tons in 2022.
“We hope that more than 60% of the total volume of Ukrainian grain exports will pass through Romania,” Cholaku said after a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal in Bucharest.
He said that Romania is trying to improve its connecting infrastructure by rail, road, river and sea, as well as at border crossings.
