Russia has halted its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal which aimed to allow Ukrainian grain to be safely exported during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July, would have eased the global food crisis, as a result.
“The Black Sea agreements ceased to be valid today,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
“Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements concerning Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated.”
So what does Ukraine export and which countries does it export to?
What does Ukraine export to the world?
Agriculture is a major industry in Ukraine. It provides employment for 14 per cent of the population and agricultural products are the country’s most important exports.
Ukraine is a major exporter of grains, which are vital to the international food market. Its top exports are sunflower oil, corn, and wheat.
Ukraine is the world’s number one exporter of sunflower oil, producing nearly five million metric tonnes in 2021-2022, according to the World Economic Forum.
It produces around one-third of the world’s sunflower oil and accounts for nearly half of global exports, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
In April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, there was a shortage of cooking oils, including sunflower oil, as a direct effect of the war.
The country is the world’s fourth-biggest exporter of corn and the fifth-biggest exporter of wheat, producing 23 million metric tonnes and 19 million metric tonnes respectively.
Ukraine is also the third-biggest exporter of rapeseed and barley, owning 20 per cent and 17 per cent of the global market, respectively.
Which countries does Ukraine export to the most?
Ukraine exports most of its sunflower oil to India, China, and the EU, while most of its corn goes to China, the EU, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.
It sends most of its wheat to Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and most of its rapeseed to the EU, the UK, and Pakistan.
Most of Ukraine’s barley goes to China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
How has the war in Ukraine resulted in global famine?
The war in Ukraine has disrupted its ability to export products like grain and wheat, resulting in food shortages around the world.
Countries like Somalia and Egypt rely on Ukraine and Russia for their wheat and grain imports, for example.
But the war in Ukraine, as well as the pandemic and the climate crisis, have increased the costs of things like shipping and fuel, resulting in food scarcity.
