Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry sees Black Sea port access possibly closed until July 2027

Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry is working under a scenario where full access to Black Sea ports may not be restored until July 1, 2027, according to Minister Taras Vysotskyi. Speaking at the "Agro Sector 2026-2027: Survival Strategy" forum, Vysotskyi said the ministry cannot confirm a timeline for resuming exports through Black Sea ports despite efforts at all levels. He urged farmers to plan for potentially prolonged export restrictions and noted that selling products is currently unprofitable in most cases. Even after ports reopen, Vysotskyi said quickly exporting accumulated grain would be difficult, as port infrastructure previously handled 6-7 million tonnes monthly. Wheat exports no longer cover costs due to the blockade and expensive Danube logistics. Turkey proposed a seven-point plan in September to unblock grain exports.