Two more ships carrying grain have left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday, bringing the total number of ships sailing from Ukrainian Black Sea ports under the UN-brokered export deal. rises to 27.
The Zumrut Ana and the MV Ocean S, authorized to leave on August 20, were loaded with 6,300 tons of sunflower oil and 25,000 tons of wheat, respectively, the joint coordination center created to allow safe passage reported in a statement.
The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said three local sea ports had started loading food onto seven ships, which would deliver 66,500 tons of wheat, corn and sunflower oil to consumers.
Ukraine’s grain exports have plummeted since the start of the war due to the closure of its Black Sea ports – a vital shipping route – pushing up global food prices and sparking fears of shortage in Africa and the Middle East.
At the end of July, three Black Sea ports were unblocked under an agreement between Moscow and kyiv, mediated by the United Nations and Turkey.
The Authority said the food of Ukrainian origin would be delivered to France, Sudan, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Friday that another 10 cargo ships were being loaded with grain at Ukrainian Black Sea ports and prepared for shipment. He maintained that 25 ships had already been shipped from three ports, with 630,000 tons of agricultural products on board.
