Up to 70 ships queue near Danube canal as Ukrainian grain exports face delays
Photo: A cargo ship at sea (Getty Images)
A queue of dozens of ships heading to Ukrainian ports has formed near the Danube’s Sulina Canal due to the route’s limited capacity, Reuters reports.
Traders and analysts estimate that up to 70 vessels are currently waiting near the Sulina Canal for passage. They are heading to Ukrainian Danube ports to load grain for export.
The delays are being caused by several factors, including a shortage of pilots, the canal’s limited capacity, and the prioritization of other cargo, particularly fuel.
Why the ships are stuck in a queue
After Russian attacks effectively blocked Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which previously handled 90% of the country’s grain exports, some cargo was redirected through river ports on the Danube.
However, the Danube route has significantly lower capacity. As a result, grain shipments are forced to compete with other types of cargo for access to port infrastructure.
Air raid alerts are another challenge. The threat of Russian attacks forces Ukrainian ports to temporarily suspend operations, further disrupting shipping schedules.
According to consulting firm ASAP Agri, more than 50 vessels were waiting to pass through the Sulina Canal as of August 25. At the same time, only five to seven vessels a day were heading to Ukrainian ports.
Each day of delay can cost carriers up to $8,000, according to the company. This is pushing up transportation costs and driving already high freight rates even higher.
Situation could worsen
ASAP Agri warned that the situation could worsen if weather conditions deteriorate in the coming days.
Katerina Kononenko, operations manager at Avalon Shipping, said the Sulina Canal could be closed for about two days due to bad weather, according to forecasts.
She said around 70 vessels were approaching Sulina. At the same time, the canal’s current capacity for vessels bound specifically for Ukrainian ports is only two to three ships per day.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports are already creating difficulties for grain exports. As a result, farmers are receiving less money to purchase seeds, fertilizers and fuel ahead of the 2027 sowing season.
Alternative routes by rail, road and through Danube ports cannot fully replace the Black Sea routes.
According to Kernel CEO Yevgen Osypov, without a solution for exports, Ukraine could be forced to leave around 20% of its agricultural land unsown, resulting in a loss of 12 million tons of food grain.
