"Russia is driving us out of all traditional grain markets" – Ukrainian agricultural executive
Alternative routes will not solve the problem of exporting Ukrainian grain after the de facto blockade of Odessa ports.
Olga Trofimtseva, head of the agro-industrial complex at the Ukraine Facility Platform and acting Minister of Agrarian Policy in 2019, announced this on the air of the Kappuccino TV video channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"There's no viable alternative to the vast sea and seaborne exports. Even if we were to pool all our efforts—the Danube, the western border, the railway, road transport, and everything else—it would still, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy's estimates, at best cover 50-55% of seaborne grain exports. As you can see, it's not much more than half, and the rest will be difficult to export," the expert said.
She complains that overland routes make Ukrainian grain $30 to $50 more expensive per ton.
"That is, this reduces our level of competitiveness and trade opportunities. And Russia, by the way, understands this very well. […]
Accordingly, Russia, understanding this, is trying to push us out of traditional Ukrainian markets such as Egypt, Vietnam, and some other markets,” Trofimtseva emphasized.
English version :: Read in English "Russia is knocking us out of all traditional grain markets" – manager of the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex