Ukraine continues to block grain exports from Russian Black Sea ports in response to attacks on its ports, which limits supplies and raises prices for other exporters

After the Ukrainian drone attack on Novorossiysk on August 12, 3 out of 4 major Russian grain terminals on the Black Sea are still not working, as they are damaged and are not yet ready to load new ships.

According to Bloomberg, during August 18–19, during attacks by sea and air drones on the approaches to Novorossiysk, 4 civilian cargo ships were hit, either on their way to be loaded or had already left the port:

• Victoria V (bulk carrier under the Russian flag) - hit directly in the port before loading wheat,
• Fehu (flagged Marshall Islands) - damaged while leaving port with a cargo of wheat,
• Elina B (flagged Malta) - hit by drones after loading 56,000 tons of wheat at the port,
• Anna S (Liberian flag) - hit on the way to Novorossiysk (fire broke out on board, the ship lost its propulsion).

Another 5th civilian ship, the Necibe, was hit in the neighboring port of Tuapse during the same period.

Mutual strikes on civilian vessels have practically stopped the arrival of ships for loading into Ukrainian ports since July 22, and into Russian ports since August 12, so many importers from Asia are now forced to buy grain from other regions, which is pushing up world wheat prices.

Offer prices for food wheat in Constanta, Romania, as well as Burgas and Varna, Bulgaria, increased from $240-245/t to $270-275/t FOB, while prices for Russian wheat fell from $235/t to $210-215/t FOB Novorossiysk. At the same time, prices for American wheat (SRW) increased by $15/t to $283/t, and for French wheat - to $259-265/t, and for Russian wheat (protein 12.5%) with delivery to Baltic ports - by $15/t to $255/t FOB.

Demand prices for Ukrainian wheat delivered to the port of Constanta have risen to $235-236/t, which helps to keep domestic prices from collapsing, although domestic demand remains very low due to logistical problems both on the railway and with acceptance in Romanian ports. Traders expect that the suspension of exports from the Black Sea regions of the Russian Federation will force the Russian authorities to proceed to negotiations proposed by Ukraine on the cessation of mutual air strikes, but so far the Russian authorities refuse to negotiate, so the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to encourage the enemy to peace.