Cargo ships have transported some 242,000 tons of maize from Ukraine since the international grain deal signed last week, news agency reports Reuters. Thousands of tons of soybeans and sunflower oil are also being transported. The figures show that grain transport is slowly getting going: at least ten cargo ships have now left Ukrainian ports.
Until recently, grain exports from Ukraine via the Black Sea were halted because of the war in the country. At the end of July, a deal was reached with the help of the United Nations and Turkey to start exports.
This was desperately needed, because there were fears of major food shortages and famines worldwide. Before the war, Ukraine transported some 6 million tons of grain per month and is one of the largest food exporters in the world.
Ten ships have left Ukrainian ports since last week. Seven of the ten ships carried nearly 250,000 tons of maize. The other ships transported according to Reuters 11,000 tons of soybeans and 6,000 tons of sunflower oil.
The first ship arrived on Monday in the Turkish port of Derince. Four more are expected to follow later in the day. They will dock near the capital Istanbul, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry. On Tuesday, those ships will be inspected, after which they can go to their final destination.
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