Russia's seaborne grain exports fell to 2.8 million tonnes in October, down 55.8 per cent year-on-year, as shipments via southern ports were brought to a near-standstill by drone attacks, according to shipping data from industry sources released on Friday.
Total seaborne exports have reached nine million tonnes so far this season, down 53.8 per cent year-on-year, according to the data.
A significant part of Russian grain destined for export is making its way out of Russia through a new route — through Baltic Sea terminals and the Arctic port of Murmansk — the data showed.
Exports via Baltic and Arctic Sea terminals increased by 800 per cent to 1.72 million tonnes in October, while shipments via Black Sea terminals fell by 94 per cent to 339,000 tonnes.
Russian companies have been repurposing fertiliser, coal, and other cargo terminals at Baltic and Arctic ports, including Ust-Luga and Murmansk, to handle grain exports, but the capacity of these ports was still not enough to offset the loss of southern ports.
Exports via Caspian and Far East terminals more than doubled in October year-on-year but remained at low levels. Shipments via the Caspian Sea increased by 113.5 per cent to 580,000 tonnes and via Far East terminals by 158.8 per cent to 136,000 tonnes, the data showed.
(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Joe Bavier)