According to five industry sources, three major grain export terminals on Russia's Black Sea coast have restricted truck deliveries of grain due to increased navigation risks in the Black Sea and a backlog of shipments caused by restrictions in the Sea of Azov.
Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, restricted the route this month after Ukrainian drones attacked grain ships in the Sea of Azov. The Sea of Azov was carrying about a quarter of Russia's grain exports. Officials redirected grain from southern regions, previously shipped via this sea, by road and rail to deep-water terminals on the Black Sea.
However, attacks on Black Sea ports have also increased. One source said, "Risks have risen, and the number of people willing to take bold, reckless risks is dwindling."
Terminals ship over 20 million tons of grain annually
According to sources, the NZT and KSK terminals in the Port of Novorossiysk, along with the ZTKT terminal in the Port of Taman, have restricted road deliveries. The annual grain shipping capacity of these three terminals exceeds 20 million tons. Russia's annual grain exports by sea stand at around 50 million tons.
The two terminals in Novorossiysk can receive grain by rail, but these deliveries can only come from southern regions. About a third of the grain handled by these two terminals arrives by road, while ZTKT only accepts truck deliveries. The terminals ship to major customers including Egypt and Turkey.
Terminal owners Demetra and Delo Group did not respond to requests for comment.
Immediately after navigation restrictions were imposed on the Sea of Azov on July 10, the Port of Kavkaz, used to transfer grain from small ships to larger vessels, was almost immediately shut down.
Baltic ports seen as safest alternative route
Sources said that Russia aims to further diversify its exports, and that Baltic ports are expected to emerge as the safest alternative route in the near future.
The Caspian Sea route is also considered an option, but this route is mainly used for shipments to Iran, and risks have increased due to the war in the Middle East as well as Ukraine's recent attack on an Iranian vessel. There has been no increase in shipments via the Caspian Sea since mid-July.
