Turkey is exploring options for launching a new grain corridor in the Black Sea

Ankara is exploring options to resume food exports and prevent a spike in global food prices caused by the suspension of exports via the Black Sea. To this end, Turkey has stepped up negotiations with Ukraine and Russia to establish a new security mechanism in the region through which these shipments pass. 

 

Currently, nearly 100 million metric tons of food cannot reach the market, causing the products to begin spoiling. Grain prices have already risen by 4–4.5%.

“The process of establishing a grain corridor in the Black Sea has been completely halted. Currently, no products are reaching Turkey from either Ukraine or Russia. If the problem is not resolved within two months, price increases could exceed 10%,” said Kazim Taiji, president of the Istanbul Association of Grain, Legume, and Oilseed Exporters (İHBİR).

The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in constant contact with Kyiv and Moscow.

As noted by Durmus Yunyavar, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Transport, during a meeting with the Chamber of Maritime Trade, diplomatic channels are operating around the clock, but there is still no clear timeline for reaching an agreement.

If a new security mechanism can be agreed upon, it will ensure the protection of merchant ships and ease pressure on global food markets.

Ekonomim reports on this.

It should be recalled that the shutdown of the main terminals in the Azov-Black Sea basin, which account for 88% of Russia’s maritime grain exports, has caused a sharp drop in purchase prices and disrupted the country’s export plans.

Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports and problems with maritime exports could jeopardize not only this year’s grain shipments but also the 2027 planting season. Due to difficulties in selling their harvest, farmers risk being left without sufficient funds for seeds, fertilizers, fuel, and other necessary resources.

Ukrainian attacks using maritime and aerial drones on the Black Sea ports of Russia, the aggressor state, have significantly disrupted grain and oil shipments. Novorossiysk—Russia’s largest port by cargo turnover, through which up to one-third of Russia’s grain exports pass—has been hit the hardest.