The government is analyzing measures to give Romanian farmers priority access to the port of Constanţa during the harvest season, which could lead to restrictions on Ukrainian wheat exports across the Black Sea, Reuters writes, citing a source in the Ministry of Agriculture in Bucharest.
Reuters notes that the port of Constanta has become the most important alternative route for Ukrainian grain exports since the Russian invasion began last year, a situation that continued even after Kyiv and Moscow reached a UN-brokered deal in July 2022 that allowed Ukraine to resume limited shipments through its Black Sea ports.
“The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture will propose in discussions with Brussels and Kyiv to optimize commercial wheat flows through the port of Constanţa to protect local farmers during harvest,” a government source told Reuters, noting that since the start of Vladimir Putin’s war through our Black Sea port a third of Ukrainian wheat exports were exported.
The source cited by Reuters did not provide further details on the plans, adding only that better clarity on expected harvest volumes could help organize flows.
The harvesting season usually starts in July and lasts until October.
Cheap Ukrainian wheat caused dissatisfaction among Romanian farmers
Romania is one of the 5 Eastern European countries that faced an influx of cheap Ukrainian wheat, which led to a collapse of prices on local markets and strong protests by domestic farmers, including in the country.
At its peak, the port of Constanta handled about 25 million tons of wheat exports, according to Reuters.
Ukraine, which was one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat before the war, expects to harvest 45 million tons of wheat this year, compared to 53 million tons last year.
For comparison, the consulting company AGRIColumn estimates the amount of wheat and oil crops that Romania will have for export in the 2023/2024 season at 21 million tons.
Ukrainian wheat is already subject to a ban on imports to Romania and other neighboring countries, a measure implemented under the coordination of the EU, a possible decision to give priority to Romanian farmers for export through the port of Constanta will affect shipments of Ukrainian wheat destined for other destinations.
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Source: Hot News
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