Ukraine exported 2.4 million tonnes of agricultural products in September, equivalent to 46% of the volume that could have been exported, Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi said.
Grain exports reached 1.4 million tonnes (38%), while oilseeds totalled 444,000 tonnes (83%), vegetable oil 311,000 tonnes (64%), and meal 280,000 tonnes (46%).
The minister specified that 41%, or 993,000 tonnes, were exported by rail; 54%, or 1.3 million tonnes, via the Danube; and 5%, or 120,000 tonnes, by road.
“By transport route, 1.3 million tonnes, or 54%, were exported through Danube ports; 993,000 tonnes, or 41%, by rail; and another 120,000 tonnes, or 5%, by road,” the ministry of agrarian policy and food reported.
“Without full access to the Black Sea ports, we effectively face an objective export limit of 45-50%. That is why it is critically important for Ukraine to preserve and expand alternative routes while also working with European partners to compensate for additional logistics costs,” Vysotskyi noted.
According to the minister, Ukraine has appealed to the European Union with a proposal to allocate at least €1.1 billion to compensate for additional logistics costs, calculated at approximately €50 per tonne. Such support could create an opportunity for an additional export of up to 20 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products.
“At present, the Ukrainian side is awaiting the European partners’ consideration of the request,” the statement says.
During the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) meeting in Brussels, Vysotskyi urged EU member states to support the uninterrupted export of Ukrainian agricultural products and to consider a temporary mechanism for partially compensating extraordinary logistics costs.
According to him, restrictions on the operations of the Greater Odesa ports are already affecting the revenues of agricultural producers and creating risks for the 2027 sowing campaign.
This season, Ukraine is set to export approximately 64 million tonnes of agricultural products. However, if the restrictions persist, over 30 million tonnes of produce could remain unexported by the end of the season, the minister noted.
According to Vysotskyi, maritime transport remains the backbone of Ukrainian agricultural exports. It accounted for 84% of export logistics in 2025 and approximately 80% in 2026. Restrictions on the operations of the Greater Odesa ports since July 21 are having repercussions for the entire agricultural economy.
The minister also emphasized the need to support the development of additional alternative export routes. Ukraine is proposing that the EU consider allocating €1.1 billion to facilitate exports via extended “Solidarity Lanes” routes, such as those passing through Germany and other destinations.
Such support would enable the export of significant additional volumes of Ukrainian agricultural products despite the restrictions on seaport operations. In this regard, Ukraine has proposed that the EU consider the possibility of temporary partial compensation for extraordinary logistics costs during the period of limited seaport operations.
Last month, Vysotskyi met Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Carlo Formosa.
The parties discussed the consequences of Russian attacks on the port infrastructure of Greater Odesa, the risks to Ukrainian agricultural exports and potential ways for Italy to increase its support for Ukrainian agricultural producers.
Vysotskyi noted that attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure in late July and early August had caused a significant decline in agricultural exports.
“The Ukrainian agricultural sector is facing a difficult situation. In August, we were able to export only around a third of the potential volume. Alternative routes could increase this figure to 50%, but they cannot fully replace the capacity of the Black Sea ports. We therefore face two challenges: maintaining resilient export routes while creating additional capacity to store the harvest,” he emphasised.
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