Vessel calls to Ukrainian ports paused, but no blockade yet, agriculture minister says
Vessel arrivals at Ukrainian ports have been temporarily suspended after shipowners decided to halt sailings, but it is too early to describe the situation as a blockade of maritime exports, Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi said on July 22.
Until the previous day, four to five vessels had been entering Ukrainian ports daily. As of today, however, inbound traffic has stopped, Vysotskyi told reporters.
According to the minister, the decision was made by shipowners, while the Ukrainian government has imposed no restrictions on vessel movements.
"As recently as yesterday, four to five vessels were entering the ports. That is not a large number, but traffic was continuing. As of today, inbound vessel calls have been suspended. This is a decision by shipowners; the state has not introduced any restrictions," Vysotskyi said.
He stressed that keeping the Black Sea shipping corridor operational is a matter of national security. The government is working on measures to restore shipping, although he declined to provide further details.
"The government will use every available measure to ensure stability. I will not comment on the details yet. First, all proposals need to be consolidated, after which the decisions will be communicated," he said.
Vysotskyi noted that the situation can change on a daily basis. Following a sharp increase in security risks, shipowners typically suspend operations, assess the new conditions and then gradually adapt, making it impossible to predict how long the current pause will last.
The minister said the impact on exports should be assessed over months rather than days. The disruption has lasted only four days so far and has not yet had a critical effect on export volumes.
"Four days have passed. This is already affecting market sentiment and prices, but nothing critical has happened to export volumes so far. One day, or even one week, without shipments will not affect annual export volumes. The real impact will come if this situation persists for several months," he explained.
Vysotskyi also advised farmers who are not under immediate financial pressure to avoid rushing grain sales.
"In difficult times, my recommendation to producers is always the same: if you can afford to wait and selling is not critical, do not rush. The first reaction is usually panic, and prices fall immediately. Of course, I am not calling on everyone to stop selling. Domestic consumption continues, and exports are still moving via alternative routes. But some producers may be able to wait a few days or weeks," he said.
Meanwhile, a number of importers continue to refrain from sending vessels to both Ukrainian and Russian ports because of the heightened risk of attacks.
