The import of grain from Ukraine to the Port of Valencia suffers the impact of the war

The Ukrainian war generated by Russia's invasion put many countries in check on a crucial food issue: cereals. The 'breadbasket of Europe' was invaded and its grain exports were put on standby. According to the World Factbook, an annual publication of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Ukraine is the largest country in Europe in terms of arable land, accounting for 56.1 per cent of its land area. A key region for supplying grain to Europe, but also to other countries outside the European Union that are highly dependent on Ukrainian grain.

A European Union (EU) report noted that "since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian grain exports have been severely disrupted. For more than four months, Russian military vessels have blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports". This situation has led to a rise in the price of this raw material, which affects many countries. This rise in value was also felt in Spain, although there were no problems of shortages.

A European Union (EU) report noted that "since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian grain exports have been severely disrupted. For more than four months, Russian military vessels have blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports". This situation has led to a rise in the price of this raw material, which affects many countries. This rise in value was also felt in Spain, although there were no problems of shortages.

The Port of Valencia is one of the destinations where the grain arrives from the Baltic country for consumption in our country. The war paralysed a large part of imports, although the "windows" to maritime trade negotiated by the United Nations partially alleviated the drop in Ukrainian grain arriving on Valencian coasts. In 2022, the figure stood at 241,000 tonnes, 87,000 less than the previous year, and the lowest figure in recent years. In the first quarter of this year, there are already 163,000 tonnes, a positive figure pending the evolution of the conflict situation due to the Russian invasion. Maize, wheat, barley and sunflower derivatives are the cereals most affected by the war in Ukraine. This situation has led to an increase in imports from other countries such as Romania and, in the case of last year, Brazil.

The same EU report indicates that "on 22 July 2022, the United Nations and Turkey negotiated an agreement for the opening of a safe maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea. Since then, some 800 ships full of grain and other foodstuffs have left three Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odessa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. While unblocking the sea export route has helped to address the global food security crisis and reduce grain prices, export delays remain significant. By March 2023, more than 23 million tonnes of grains and other foodstuffs have been exported under the Black Sea Grain Export Initiative".

The flow of cereal originating from the Ukrainian country depends on the agreements reached by the different countries and Russia's threats on the international agreements that provide an outlet for the cereal that leaves Europe's granary for the whole world. In fact, in this first half of 2023, the grain from Ukraine that has arrived at the Port of Valencia has exceeded 296,000 tonnes, already above the figures for the whole of 2022. A situation which, following Russia's non-renewal of the agreement that allowed shipments from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea and the attack on Ukraine's cereal infrastructures, once again puts the supply of these basic products from the breadbasket of Europe to the rest of the world, especially to the country’s most in need, at serious risk.