4.7M tonnes of grain shipped total so far: Ukraine
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More shipments are anticipated to depart from the three Ukrainian Black Sea ports under the UN-brokered grain agreement - the next will contain eight ships.
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A civilian inspection team on board one of the shipments (UNOCHA)
So far, a total of 211 ships carrying 4.7 million tonnes of agricultural products have departed Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry on Saturday.
The Ministry said eight ships with 131,300 tonnes of agricultural products are due to leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Saturday.
Ukraine, a global major grain producer and exporter, shipped approximately 6 million tonnes of grain per month before the war started in February, but after its seaports were blocked as a result, food prices skyrocketed globally and food shortages began in Africa and the Middle East.
However, following an UN-brokered agreement signed on July 22 by Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey to establish a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting food and fertilizer, three Black Sea ports - Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne - were reopened and the Ministry announced that these ports now have the ability to load and transport abroad 100-150 cargo ships per month.
The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established to supervise the initiative's operation, including ensuring that cargo ships do not transport illicit commodities or individuals.
Per the Ministry's statement as well, another eight ships with 131,300 tonnes of agricultural products such as grain and corn are bound to leave Ukrainian Black Sea ports on Saturday.
