Rail shipments of grain to the ports of Odessa region fell by 84.3% during the first five days of August compared with the same period in July, totaling 40,800 tonnes, according to brokerage firm Spike Brokers.
The company reported that Ukraine's total agricultural exports between August 1 and 6 amounted to 312,900 tonnes, down 60.1% from 784,500 tonnes during the corresponding period in July. Export revenue also declined by 38.4%, falling to $201.5 million from $326.9 million.
The sharpest decline was recorded in grain exports. Wheat exports totaled 93,200 tonnes during the first six days of August, compared with 294,900 tonnes in early July, while corn exports fell to 33,500 tonnes from 293,700 tonnes.
At the same time, seasonal rapeseed exports appeared in August's export structure, reaching 27,900 tonnes, while soybean meal exports increased to 25,700 tonnes from 18,600 tonnes during the same period in July. Sunflower oil exports declined to 30,700 tonnes from 52,100 tonnes.
During the first five days of August, Ukrainian Railways transported a total of 182,000 tonnes of grain and processed grain products, a 44.1% decrease compared with the same period in July.
"Ukrainian Railways' data for the first five days of the month show a sharp decline in rail grain traffic to the ports of Odessa region, while rail border crossings and road exports have remained relatively more active," the report said.
Regarding overland logistics, 59,600 tonnes of agricultural products were exported through road border crossings between August 1 and 6, compared with 53,600 tonnes during the same period in July, an increase of 11.3%.
According to Spike Brokers, the average daily movement of grain and meal railcars through border crossings during the first five days of August reached 142 wagons, compared with 139 wagons in July.
The strongest growth was recorded on the Romanian route, where traffic increased to 31.2 wagons per day, up 29.3 wagons from the July average. Poland increased throughput to 27.4 wagons per day (+13.8), while Hungary reduced it to 23 wagons per day (-15.9) and Slovakia to 14.2 wagons per day (-2.7). The number of grain railcars queued at the border increased from 369 to 521, a rise of 41.2%.
"Unlike the weaker overall pace of agricultural exports, road transport began August more actively than July. However, its overall capacity remains insufficient to offset the decline in large-volume grain shipments through seaports," the report noted.
Activity also increased on the Danube route, where the number of grain railcars in transit rose to 1,296, up by 155, while average daily unloading increased to 157 wagons, an increase of 106.
