First Ukrainian corn cargo leaves Romanian Black Sea port

Comvex SA

29/04/2022 06:51

BUCHAREST, April 29 (Reuters) - A cargo carrying over 71,000
tonnes of Ukrainian corn finished loading in the Romanian Black
Sea port of Constanta on Thursday, the first since Russia
invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the manager of port operator Comvex
said.  
    With Ukraine's sea ports blocked since the war started more
than two months ago, the world's fourth-largest grain exporter
has been forced to send shipments by train via its western
border or through its small Danube river ports into Romania.
    "This is the first panamax vessel with Ukrainian corn to
leave the port," Comvex President Viorel Panait told Reuters.
    The ship taking the cargo is the Unity N, according to a
Reuters witness. 
    "Supporting Ukrainian grain exports means preventing a
colossal wave of global hunger triggered by the blocking of
Ukrainian ports," said Panait.
    Comvex operates Europe's fastest-loading grain terminal,
which can process up to 70,000 tonnes per day, as well as a
mineral handling terminal, said Panait, who is also president of
the Constanta Port Business Association. 
    Earlier in the week, the operator finished loading around
35,000 tonnes of Ukrainian iron ore, with a second ship expected
to be loaded around May 15, he said. 
    "Compared with the initial moment, when everyone was
searching for alternatives, transport corridors for these
exports are slowly taking shape," Panait said.
    Around 80,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grains have been sent to
Constanta so far, with another 80,000 approved and en route,
Constanta Port's manager said on Tuesday.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2WO2RU
    European Union member Romania shares borders on the Black
Sea, a major shipping artery for grain and oil, with Bulgaria,
Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia.
    But, more work was needed on the port's connecting
infrastructure, Panait said.
    "The infrastructure around the port is a problem for all
economic activity in Romania ... slow access generates
additional costs in these industries."
    Panait welcomed plans by the Romanian government to
rehabilitate several rail lines connecting ports to the
Ukrainian borders.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2WO1BX
    On Thursday, Ukraine accused Russia of stealing grain in
territory it has occupied, an act which it said increased the
threat to global food security posed by disruptions to spring
sowing and the blocking of Ukrainian ports during the war.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2WQ8DG
    Russia calls its invasion of Ukraine a "special military
operation".

 (Reporting by Luiza Ilie, Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
 ((luiza.ilie@thomsonreuters.com; +4021 527 0312; https://www.reuters.com/journalists/luiza-ilie))