The ship “Razoni” was due to leave Odesa at 07.30 Monday morning Norwegian time, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defence. An hour later the ship left the port.
Due to sea mines and Russian warships, it has been impossible to transport the grain until now. The ship departing from Odesa is bound for Tripoli in Lebanon.
On 22 July, Ukraine entered into an agreement on grain exports with Russia, the UN and Turkey.
Turkey has also opened a coordination center in Istanbul to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports.
On Friday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, visited the port of Odesa.
– It is important for us to remain a guarantor of global food security, Zelenskyj said during the visit.
On Friday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, visited the port of Odesa.
Photo: AP
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Relief for farmers
Ukrainian farmers have suffered heavy economic losses due to the war. Managing director of AgriAnalyse, Christian Anton Smedshaug, tells NRK that the resumed exports will primarily be important for Ukrainian farmers.
– It will also give them confidence to bet against the 2023 season. That is probably the most important thing, says Smedshaug.
Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of grain and sunflower oil. Many countries in the Middle East and Africa depend on Ukrainian wheat and sunflower oil. The war has led to food shortages and inflation all over the world.
16 ships are ready to transport grain to, among others, Africa and the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera.
– This, of course, also results in a far better situation over time for many countries in North Africa, the Middle East, parts of East Africa and Indonesia. They can hope and avoid the big price spikes that there is a greater chance of over the winter if Ukraine’s grain does not come out, says Smedshaug.
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