Global Food Crisis: How the UN & Turkey Reopened Ukraine’s Ports & Grain Exports
We are in the midst of a global Food/Hunger Crisis — mainly caused by the Ukraine-Russia War and Climate Change. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a new report outlining countries that "are either already starving or on the brink of disaster." WFP and FAO found 19 hunger hotspots worldwide, with most countries in Africa, the Middle East, and even some in Central America. WFP and FAO have called for urgent humanitarian action between October 2022 and January 2023 to avoid "huge loss of life." Afghanistan, Ethiopia (where famine has taken hold), South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, and Haiti are labeled "hotspots of highest concern," facing catastrophic hunger levels. Oxfam notes that the current drought in the Horn of Africa (impacting Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya) is likely to claim a life every 36 seconds. The UN’s Joint Coordination Center/Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has reopened Ukraine’s grain exports, is a glimmer of hope. Between August 1-October 20, a total of 365 ships transported 8m tonnes of Ukrainian grain to Europe (62.5%), Asia (19.5%), Africa (13%) and the Middle East ((5.3%).
Background on the JCC/Black Sea Grain Initiative:
While there is lingering criticism of the Security Council's inability to prevent or stop the war in Ukraine, it's worth noting one of the major accomplishments and that is the UN's key role in enabling Food Exports from Ukraine. As background, it is important to reiterate that Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of the world's wheat and barley, more than 70 percent of its sunflower oil and both countries are big suppliers of corn and fertilizer. Due to the war and Russian blockade of Black Sea ports, exports were stalled for five months and key regions that rely on Ukrainian grain (e.g. MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa) faced the prospect of a real food/hunger crisis which would be devastating -- given the converging socio-economic, climate, and migration/refugee crises.
Pivotal Partnership:
In order to address the food export crisis, the UN and Turkey/Türkiye worked together to broker a deal with Ukraine & Russia, and they established the "Joint Coordination Center" (JCC). After the five-month blockade, the first ships left Black Sea ports on August 12th. Under the auspices of the JCC, a total of 165 ships with 3.7 million tonnes of agricultural products on board have left Ukraine so far. This is a remarkable achievement that should be noted. Of course, given the ongoing war, just maintaining the deal remains a challenge...but the exports continue in the meantime. Working under truly unbelievable conditions, Ukrainian farmers continue to work their fields and till the highly fertile "chernozem" (black soil) of Ukraine, to feed the world.
October 30, 2022 Update: As noted above, just maintaining the Black Sea Initiative is a challenging endeavor. As of 24hrs ago, Russia announced it would suspend its involvement in the deal. The next few days will be critical as the UN and Turkey aim to bring Russia back into the deal. Per the BBC: “A UN spokesman was in touch with Moscow [and] added that it was "vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative", which it said was a critical humanitarian effort improving access to food for millions of people around the world.”
November 2, 2022 Update: Just days after announcing that it would “suspend its involvement” in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has now rejoined the deal. A VOA article reflected the following statement from the Russian defense ministry: “The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at the moment appear sufficient, and resumes the implementation of the agreement.” While this is encouraging, it is clear that the UN and Turkiye will continue their steadfast efforts to keep the ports open and maintain the shipments.
Key Details:
Here are some key details about the "Joint Coordination Center" from ReliefWeb:
The Initiative was launched by the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Nations on 22 July 2022 to enable the resumption of exports from Ukraine of grain, other foodstuffs, and fertilizer, including ammonia, through a safe maritime humanitarian corridor from three key Ukrainian ports, Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, in the Black Sea to the rest of the world. The Initiative is based on the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established under the Initiative in Istanbul and comprises senior representatives from the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Nations.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - AUGUST 02: Turkey's representative at the Joint Coordination Center, Rear Admiral Ozcan Altunbulak briefs journalists on the progress of the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, that left the port of Odessa with the first grain shipment for export since the start of the Ukraine war at the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) on August 02, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Razoni is the first ship to export Ukrainian grain since the start of the war and a safe passage deal was signed between Ukraine and Russia on 22 July, 2022. The ship is bound for Tripoli, Lebanon carrying 26,000 tons of corn.
Vessel Movements
▪ As of noon on 12 September, 2.7 million metric tons of grain and other foodstuffs were moved from the three Ukrainian ports. So far, 53% of the cargo was corn, 23% wheat, 12% sunflower products, 6% barley, 5% rapeseed, 1% soya beans, with other products making up the remainder.
▪ Destinations: 28% to low and lower-middle income1 countries: Egypt (10%), Iran and India (5%), Sudan and Kenya (2%), and Djibouti, Lebanon, Somalia, and Yemen (1%); 27% to upper-middle income countries: Türkiye (19%), China (8%), and Bulgaria (<1%); and 44% to high-income countries: Spain (13%), The Netherlands (8%), Italy (7%), Republic of Korea (5%), Romania (4%), Germany (2%), and France, Greece, Ireland and Israel (1%). Destinations indicated are based on information received at the JCC and may change based on commercial activity. Grains that reach a destination may go through processing and be transshipped to other countries. Detailed movement reports can be found here: https://www.un.org/en/black-sea-graininitiative/vessel-movements
▪ On 2 September, the FAO announced that world food prices dipped for the fifth month in a row. The FAO Cereal Price Index decreased by 1.4% from August, a drop driven by a 5.1% decline in international wheat prices reflecting improved production prospects in North America and the Russian Federation as well as the resumption of exports from the Black Sea ports in Ukraine.
▪ Since 1 August, the JCC has enabled the safe movement of 122 voyages from Ukraine and 144 voyages to Ukraine. As part of its responsibilities, the JCC has been closely monitoring the inbound and outbound movement of vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea. On several occasions, it has observed vessels deviating from the corridor and it has responded appropriately by contacting captains and advising them to follow the coordinates. In some cases, the JCC made formal contact in writing when the same vessels deviated several times. The JCC is also providing pre-transit briefs to inbound captains during the inspection process in Istanbul. The JCC continues to assess and review the procedures put in place to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor. On 25 August the JCC revised the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor and issued fresh procedures.
▪ A first UN World Food Programme-chartered vessel, BRAVE COMMANDER (IMO 9136931), docked in Djibouti on 30 August to support the drought response in the Horn of Africa. A second WFP-chartered vessel, KARTERIA (IMO 9236092) loaded with 37,500 metric tons of wheat sailed on 30 August and docked in Türkiye on 3 September, where the wheat will be milled to flour and shipped to Yemen in two different vessels. This flour will then be loaded onto a different ship that will head to Yemen to support World Food Programme’s humanitarian response there. A third WFP-chartered vessel, IKARIA ANGEL (IMO 9194397) is en route to Chornomorsk, where it will load 30,000 metric tons of wheat destined for Djibouti, further supporting humanitarian efforts in the Horn of Africa.
October 30 Update from the UN:
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“In order to continue fulfilling the Initiative, it was proposed that the Turkish and United Nations delegations provide tomorrow 10 inspection teams aiming to inspect 40 outbound vessels. This inspection plan has been accepted by the delegation of Ukraine. The Russian Federation delegation has been informed.
Currently, there are 97 loaded vessels and 15 inbound vessels registered for JCC inspection around Istanbul. There are an additional 89 that have applied to join the Initiative.
In addition, the Ukrainian, Turkish and United Nations delegations agreed on a movement plan for tomorrow 31 October for the maritime humanitarian corridor of 16 vessels, 12 outbound and 4 inbound. The UN delegation, in its capacity as JCC Secretariat, has informed the delegation of the Russian Federation on the movements in accordance with the JCC established procedures. As per JCC procedures, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
There was no movement of vessels in the corridor today, 30 October. There are currently 21 vessels engaged in the Initiative that are in or near the three Ukrainian ports with a capacity of over 700,000 metric tons, including IKARIA ANGEL, a vessel chartered by the World Food Programme loaded with 30,000 metric tons of wheat for the emergency response in the Horn of Africa.
Today, the joint inspection teams concluded 11 inspections on board outbound vessels SAKAR (IMO 9104811), BLUE SHARK (IMO 9003770), IRMGARD (IMO 9590967), ARGONAUT (IMO 9717694), LUCKY (IMO 9037305), YAF S (IMO 9437787), LADY ELA (IMO 9511442), SANITA S (IMO 9237888), SUPER ARSENAL (IMO 9316933), ZHE HAI 505 (IMO 9567477), and NEW LEVANT (IMO 9111371). The JCC has requested additional documentation from one more outbound vessel JAGUAR (IMO 7726990) to be cleared remotely. Another inspection on board an outbound vessel was suspended due to lack of documents.
Today, 30 October, six vessels carrying 186,426 metric tons of grains and other food stuffs began their outbound voyage but have not yet entered the maritime humanitarian corridor:
1) DESPINA V (IMO 9727986) from Yuzhny/Pivdennyi to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, carrying 71,135 metric tons of corn.
2) NIKOLAOS A (IMO 9493949) Chornomorsk to Liverpool, United Kingdom, carrying 46,141 metric tons of rapeseed.
3) AFRICAN ROBIN (IMO 9317767) from Odesa to Algeria, carrying 30,500 metric tons of wheat.
4) IKARIA ANGEL (IMO 9194397) from Chornomorsk to Djibouti, carrying 30,000 metric tons of wheat.
5) SK FRIENDSHIP (IMO 8909446) from Chornomorsk to Egypt, carrying 6,600 metric tons of soya beans.
6) SEALOCK (IMO 8218380) from Chornomorsk to Mersin, Türkiye, carrying 2,050 metric tons of peas.
Yesterday, 29 October, five outbound vessels transited safely the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative carrying 97,400 metric tons:
1) SUPER BAYERN (IMO 9278911) from Chornomorsk to Italy carrying 33,000 metric tons of corn.
2) RUBYMAR (IMO 9138898) from Yuzhny/Pivdennyi to Iskenderun, Türkiye carrying 29,600 metric tons of corn.
3) RISING EAGLE (IMO 9073672) from Odesa to Egypt, carrying 25,000 metric tons of wheat.
4) CAPTAIN ADAM 1 (IMO 8914087) from Chornomorsk to Italy carrying 6,600 metric tons of soy beans.
5) MONTARA (IMO 9234202) from Odesa to Türkiye carrying 3,200 metric tons of corn.
In addition, four inbound vessels transited safely the corridor yesterday and reached their respective ports: CHRISTINA B (IMO 9304162), ELEFSIS (IMO 9118678), RATTANA NAREE (IMO 9245055), and RIO (IMO 9039975).
As of today, the total tonnage of grain and food stuffs moved from the Ukrainian ports under the Initiative is 9,521,645 tons.”
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