The Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Lebanon reports that the initial batch of grain sent from the Odessa port did not reach its Lebanese buyer after a week in transit. The embassy’s update shows ongoing negotiations after shipment are moving quickly as all parties work toward a new agreement.
Industry sources explain that the final buyer in Lebanon turned away the cargo because the delay extended beyond five months. With that decision, the supplier shifted focus to locating a new buyer, possibly in another city or even another country. The note hints at a potential purchaser in Tripoli, Lebanon, or at a distant port, illustrating how fluid the market has become as talks continue and logistics adjust.
The carrier Razoni, a dry cargo ship flying a Sierra Leonean flag, was scheduled to call at the Lebanese port of Tripoli. On board were 26,000 tons of corn. An official from the port administration indicated that the supplier is actively seeking a fresh buyer for the Ukrainian grain, reflecting unsettled demand in the region.
Lebanese authorities reported that the local buyer declined the shipment, prompting a change of course for the vessel. The ship subsequently cancelled its planned August 9 arrival date at the final destination, signaling shifts in expected routing and timing for delivery.
At present, it remains unclear which port Razoni will reach next. An official noted that a new purchaser could emerge from any neighboring country, not strictly within Lebanon, showing the broader geographic scope of the grain market amid ongoing talks and adjustments in logistics.
Marine Traffic, a ship tracking service, shows Razoni with an ordered status in the destination field. That designation means the captain is awaiting a new buyer for the Ukrainian corn, underscoring the ongoing commercial pivot in response to buyer hesitation and delivery delays.
Razoni departed Odessa on August 1. Three days later, inspectors from the Istanbul Joint Coordination Center reviewed the vessel at the Bosphorus entrance. A delegation of representatives from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations examined the agricultural documents tied to the shipment, reinforcing the global governance framework that has guided grain exports from the Black Sea region.
In Istanbul, a package of documents was signed to facilitate grain exports from Kyiv’s Black Sea ports and to stabilize food and fertilizer flows to world markets. One provision outlines a procedure for shipments leaving Ukrainian ports under Kyiv’s control, reinforcing the legal framework supporting shipments despite regional tensions.
A few days after Razoni’s departure, three more dry cargo vessels Navistar, Rojen and Polarnet departed from Ukrainian ports toward Istanbul. The Ministry of National Defense announced that Navistar left Odessa under a Panamanian flag carrying 33,000 tons of corn. Rojen sailed toward England from Chornomorsk, carrying 13,000 tons, with reports indicating it should reach the United Kingdom by mid-August. Polarnet, also leaving Chornomorsk, sails under the Turkish flag with 12,000 tons, and its final stop was identified as Karasu port.
On August 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the dispatch of the three grain-carrying ships from Ukraine, noting 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 had proceeded to the port of Chernomorsk for loading, signaling an ongoing effort to restore export flows.
President Zelensky framed the acceleration of grain exports as a key objective, arguing that broader international access to Ukrainian grain could help ease political volatility in regions such as Africa and Asia. He emphasized that expanding global grain supply could reduce the impact of political disruptions on harvests in those regions, presenting the initiative as a tool for regional stability and economic relief.