Falling grain exports will affect US railroads’ capacity needs, expert says

Within the next 10 years, U.S. and Canadian grain exports could look very different from now. Stiff competition from other grain-producing countries and regions, such as Brazil, the area around the Black Sea and Australia, could pressure North American export volumes. Meanwhile, domestic production of biofuels, particularly biodiesel, is anticipated to grow.

What will these changes mean for the freight railroads, which transport grains from the Midwest and western Canada to the ports for export?...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/falling-grain-exports-will-affect-us-railroads-capacity-needs-expert-says

Ukraine Opens Temporary Shipping Channels in Black Sea

Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo

Ukraine announced temporary corridors for commercial vessels to depart Black Sea ports despite ongoing threats from Russia.

The routes will be used to allow civilian vessels to leave Ukrainian ports Chernomorks, Odesa and Southern, Ukraine’s navy announced via Facebook. Merchant ships that can confirm their readiness to sail will be allowed on the routes.

The last commercial ship to leave a Ukrainian port with grain...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/10/ukraine-opens-temporary-shipping-channels-in-black-sea

British Defense Ministry Warns of Potential Naval Blockade in Black Sea

Dmitriy Rogachyov pulled into Sevastopol in 2019. Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The British Ministry of Defense warned Wednesday that Russia could be planning a naval blockade of Ukraine. The blockade would prevent ships from pulling into Ukraine and the Kremlin’s latest move in the Black Sea since Moscow withdrew from a U.N. brokered grain deal.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet altered its posture, likely to enforce a blockade of Ukraine, according to the British Ministry of Defense’s...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/26/british-defense-ministry-warns-of-potential-naval-blockade-in-black-sea

No Pentagon Plans to Send Assets to Black Sea Over Collapsed Grain Deal

Ukrainian port facility on the Danube River after an attack on July 24, 2023. Ukrainian MoD Photo

The U.S. does not plan to send any assets to the Black Sea amidst tensions over the Russian withdrawal from the U.N.-Turkey brokered grain deal, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The Biden administration announced the latest presidential drawdown authority for Ukraine military assistance, which included additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and the Patriot air...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/25/no-pentagon-plans-to-send-assets-to-black-sea-over-collapsed-grain-deal

NATO-Ukraine Council to Discuss Russian Withdrawal From Grain Deal, Ongoing Port Strikes

Ukrainian port facility on the Danube River after an attack on July 24, 2023. Ukrainian MoD Photo

The NATO-Ukraine Council is set to discuss Russia’s withdrawal from a Turkey-U.N. brokered grain deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its ports.

The council will discuss the withdrawal Wednesday, Reuters reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy requested the meeting.

The United Nations Security Council also met on Friday to discuss the grain deal. Russia continues to bombard...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/24/nato-ukraine-council-to-discuss-russian-withdrawal-from-grain-deal-ongoing-port-strikes

Russia Continues Odesa Attacks After Grain Deal Collapse, NSC Warns Of Potential Food Shortages

Attacks on Odesa. Ukrainian MoD Photo

Russian bombed the Ukrainian port city Odesa for the second time since Moscow pulled out of a United Nations-Turkey brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Ukraine told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that Russian strikes are hitting ports that hold more than 1 million tons of foodstuffs, the Kyiv Independent .

It is the third night, overall, that Moscow attacked Ukrainian port cities,...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/20/russia-continues-attacks-odesa-after-grain-deal-collapse-nsc-warns-of-potential-food-shortages

Top Stories 2022: War in Ukraine

Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles. Ukraine MoD Photo

This post is part of a series looking back at the top naval stories from 2022.

It has been 10 months since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the war is on track to extend into the new year.

Peace talks between the two countries are unlikely to happen in the near future, due to unwavering demands on both sides, The New York Times reported Wednesday. Russia wants four regions of Ukraine it says it annexed in September, while Kyiv wants Russian...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/28/top-stories-2022-war-in-ukraine

Black Sea Grain Deal Extended by Another Four Months

Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo

A Turkey-United Nations brokered deal to allow for Ukraine grain exportation was extended by 120 days, the U.N. announced Thursday.

The deal, which was signed in July — automatically extended — with the extension beginning on Saturday, which is when the original deal was set to expire, according to a U.N. news release.

Secretary-General António Guterres praised the extension on Twitter.

“I welcome the agreement by all...

https://news.usni.org/2022/11/18/black-sea-grain-deal-extended-by-another-four-months

Romanian Navy Needs Minehunters to Keep Black Sea Safe for Ships, Navy Chief Says

Lt. Remus Lepri (F-24) in port in Constanta, Romania on May 7, 2022. US Army Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Romania’s navy wants more minehunters in order to keep merchant ships safer in the Black Sea, its top Navy official said last week.

The mine threat in the Black Sea is affecting overall freedom of navigation in the region, Rear Adm. Mihai Panait, chief of Naval Forces of Romania, said at a discussion on the Black Sea hosted by Yorktown Institute and New Strategy Center.

Ukrainian forces mined the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/03/romanian-navy-needs-minehunters-to-keep-black-sea-safe-for-ships-navy-chief-says

Join Our Newsletter
Enter your email to receive a weekly round-up of shipping news.
icon