Around 450,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain is moving through Poland a month, more than 50% more than in the middle of the year, Poland’s infrastructure minister said on Wednesday, as Warsaw helps its neighbor boost food exports. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading exporters of grain and oilseeds, and Russia’s blockade of its ports following Moscow’s invasion of the country in February prompted a search for alternative routes.
After an almost six-month blockade, three Ukrainian Black Sea ports were unblocked at the end of July under an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv brokered by the UN and Turkey. But Russian support for the pact has wavered in recent weeks to the point that Moscow temporarily withdrew in late October, raising questions about the long-term future of the deal, which was extended for 120 days in mid-November.
“About 452,000 tons of (Ukrainian) grain is currently transported through the territory of Poland under the so-called solidarity lanes, more than 50% more than in the middle of the year,” Andrzej Adamczyk said. “Compared to October last year, the increase in grain transportation in the same period of 2022 is more than 16-fold,” he added.
