The Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Lebanon reported that the first Ukrainian grain batch dispatched from the port of Odessa was rejected by the purchaser a week after departure. This update appeared on the embassy’s Twitter account, highlighting the developing pace of post-shipment negotiations.
According to information from the cargo supplier, the last buyer in Lebanon declined the cargo because delivery was delayed by more than five months. With that decision, the supplier shifted its attention to finding another purchaser, potentially in a different city or even a distinct country. The note indicated that the new buyer could be located in Tripoli, Lebanon, or at a port abroad, underscoring how fluid the market for this shipment has become.
The carrier Razoni, a dry cargo ship flying the Sierra Leonean flag, was originally scheduled to call at the Lebanese port of Tripoli. On board were 26,000 tons of corn. A source within the port administration informed TASS that the supplier is actively seeking a new buyer for the Ukrainian grain, reflecting the unsettled demand landscape in the region. [Citation: TASS]
Lebanese authorities reported that the buyer there refused to take the 26,000 tons, prompting a change of course for the vessel. The ship subsequently canceled its intended arrival date of August 9 at the final destination, signaling a shift in the expected route and timing of delivery. [Citation: Port Authority Update]
At present, it is unclear which port Razoni will reach next. An official noted that a fresh purchaser could emerge from any neighboring country, not strictly within Lebanon, illustrating the broader geographic scope of the grain market amid ongoing talks and logistics adjustments. [Citation: Maritime Source]
Marine Traffic, the ship tracking service, shows Razoni as having the status ordered in the relevant destination field. That designation means the captain is awaiting a new buyer for the Ukrainian corn, highlighting the ongoing commercial pivot in response to buyer hesitancy and delivery delays. [Citation: Marine Traffic]
Razoni departed Odessa on August 1. Three days later, employees from the Istanbul Joint Coordination Center inspected the dry cargo vessel at the Bosphorus entrance. A delegation comprising 20 representatives from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations reviewed the agricultural documents tied to the shipment, reinforcing the global governance framework that has guided grain exports from the Black Sea region. [Citation: Center Report]
On July 22, a package of documents was signed in Istanbul among the four parties to facilitate the export of grain from Kyiv’s Black Sea ports and to stabilize food and fertilizer flows to world markets. One provision outlined a procedure for grain shipments leaving the Ukrainian ports under Kyiv’s control, underscoring the legal infrastructure supporting shipments despite regional tensions. [Citation: Istanbul Agreement Summary]
A few days after Razoni’s departure, three more dry cargo vessels Navistar, Rojen and Polarnet left Ukrainian ports en route to Istanbul. The Ministry of National Defense announced that Navistar had departed Odessa under a Panamanian flag and was carrying 33,000 tons of corn, illustrating how multiple consignments were moving in tandem with the broader export initiative. Rojen sailed toward England from Chernomorsk, carrying 13,000 tons, with ITV citing sources that the Maltese-flagged vessel should reach the United Kingdom by August 14. Polarnet, also leaving Chornomorsk, sails under the Turkish flag with 12,000 tons, and its final stop was identified as Karasu port. [Citation: Defense Ministry Brief]
On August 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the dispatch of the three grain-carrying ships from Ukraine, noting that the ships carried a combined total of about 60,000 tons of corn aimed at markets in Turkey, the United Kingdom and Ireland. He also mentioned that the first new ship since February 24 was heading to the port of Chernomorsk for loading, signaling an ongoing push to restore export flows. [Citation: Presidential Address]
President Zelensky framed the acceleration of grain exports as a central objective, arguing that broader international access to Ukrainian grain could help mitigate political volatility in various regions, particularly in Africa and Asia. He emphasized that expanding global grain supply could lessen the impact of political disruptions on harvests in those regions, framing the initiative as a tool for regional stability as well as economic relief. [Citation: Presidential Remarks]