Ukraine urges EU to help make emergency food routes permanent

A combine harvester harvests wheat near Zghurivka, Kyiv region Ukraine, 9 August, 2022.

Ukraine on Monday (26 September) urged the European Union for support in its plans to make emergency routes for grain exports through the bloc more permanent. This includes investment in at least five terminals and a pipeline that would allow sunflower oil to flow through.

Mykola Solsky, Ukraine's agriculture minister, told EU counterparts and members of the European Commission that his country required financial support in order to reduce dependence on Black Sea exports Russia had blocked or could block again.

The country's sunflower seed and grain exports have increased from 200,000 tonnes in February after Russia invaded, to 4.5 million tonnes in August. This was due to a July agreement to unblock ports. However, most of the overland corridors that run through Europe are still being followed.

Solsky stated that the corridors should be made permanent and stable after a meeting in Brussels.

He stated that Ukraine needs help to expand its truck fleet. A rise of 16,000 trucks to 12,000 could enable 10-20 million tonnes of cereals per year to cross the land border.

Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of grain in the world. It supplies approximately 45 million tonnes per year to the global market.

Five border terminals, each costing $25-30M each, should be constructed. It would depend on the route taken to build a sunflower oil pipeline.

Solsky recognized that shipping was more affordable, but for crops in west Ukraine, the distance to Baltic ports was only to the Black Sea. Ukraine would be facing an "unpredictable neighbour" even after the war.

He said: "To have an alternate route is essential in order to continue business, routes through friendly democratic nations are a must."

Janusz Wojciechowski, agriculture commissioner, said that he would request the EU executive to evaluate ways the bloc could finance such initiatives.

Falling exports in the 2022-2023 Season have pushed up global food prices, and raised concerns about food shortages in Africa.