Ukraine has so far harvested 17.5 million tons of grain this year. That is almost half less than in the same period of 2021, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture reports. The harvest is disrupted by the Russian invasion of the country. Ukraine is one of the main grain exporters in the world.
In 2021, an amount of approximately 32 million tons was harvested in the period up to 6 August. This concerns grain products such as wheat, maize and barley. Over the whole of 2021, the Ukrainian grain harvest reached a record level of 86 million tons. The ministry said the harvest in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions is already nearing completion for this year.
Exports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine have been hit hard as key ports on the Black Sea have been blocked. Cargo ships carrying grain are now departing from Ukrainian ports again, thanks to an international grain deal between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations.
The agreement, initiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will allow ships to sail safely across the Black Sea to Turkey. At least 20 million tons of grain are waiting to be shipped in Ukrainian ports.
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