Daniil Getmantsev, who chairs the tax committee in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, reported that Kiev has moved a significant amount of cargo through a temporary sea corridor in the Black Sea. In his Telegram feed, he shared the latest figures, highlighting how the route is shifting Ukraine’s export landscape amid ongoing disruptions to traditional trade channels.
The deputy noted that more than 660 ships have navigated the alternative corridor, delivering a variety of Ukrainian products to 32 different countries. The breadth of destinations underscores how Ukrainian exporters are diversifying markets and adapting to new maritime routes that bypass congested or restricted corridors elsewhere.
In a breakdown of January activity, Getmantsev said that 6.3 million tons of cargo were moved from the port of Odessa alone. This figure illustrates the scale of the effort to maintain steady export flows from one of Ukraine’s key seaports, despite geopolitical tensions and the challenges of reorganizing supply chains under unpredictable conditions.
Earlier, Belgian Foreign Minister Aja Labib suggested that the international community should consider resuming Turkey’s mediating role in Ukraine’s grain supplies. Labib emphasized that the grain issue remains blocked and that dialogue among involved parties could help unlock movement of agricultural products to global markets. His remarks point to ongoing diplomacy around grain shipments as a crucial piece of regional stability and economic recovery for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara, Vasily Bodnar, commented on negotiations following Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea initiative. He indicated that Kyiv is pursuing new formats for grain exports and engaging in discussions to identify viable mechanisms that could ensure secure and predictable shipments despite recent disruptions. The dialogue signals a continued commitment to maintaining Ukraine’s role as a major grain exporter in global markets while exploring alternative pathways to reach buyers.
Against this backdrop, reports from multiple regions note that African countries have reduced their use of the ruble in export payments to Russia. The shift reflects broader changes in how international trade is conducted and how countries are adapting to evolving currency and payment arrangements in a volatile global economy. Stakeholders in Ukraine and beyond are watching closely to see how these developments influence trade flows, pricing, and the resilience of export relationships during this period of transition.