Russia's seaborne grain exports dropped by 61.9 per cent year on year in September to almost two million tonnes due to a sharp decline in shipments via the ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin, according to shipping data from industry sources.
Total seaborne exports have amounted to six million tonnes so far this season, 61.5 per cent down year on year, the data shows.
Exports via terminals in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov fell by 93.7 per cent to 0.3 million tonnes in September year on year, the data shows.
More than 60 per cent of exported seaborne grain was loaded via north western terminals, which became an alternative to the Azov-Black Sea basin, though still not enough to fully replace lost volumes through Black Sea ports.
Exports via Baltic ports reached 1.2 million tonnes compared with only 47,400 tonnes in September the previous year, data shows.
Russian grain exporters are actively rerouting shipments to the Baltic Sea, including ports in the Baltic states, after Ukrainian drone attacks in the Black Sea forced them to seek alternative routes.
Exports via the Caspian Sea, a route primarily serving Iran, increased by 45.7 per cent to 0.4 million tonnes, and deliveries through Far East terminals increased by 43.1 per cent to 0.05 million tonnes in September.
(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Xevi Fontdegloria)
