Agriproduct exports halt as West fails to meet grain deal terms
4 Min Read
No new vessel carrying food produce has been licensed for export under the Black Sea Initiative as the expiry date approaches.
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Workers at the Uralkali, a Russian potash fertilizer company, in the Urals city of Berezniki (AFP)
Since the signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative last year, no vessels have been dispatched for the purpose of exporting Russian fertilizers, signaling Western failure to fulfill their claimed commitments to secure the global food market.
According to the Office of the UN Coordinator overseeing the implantation of the agreement, no vessel left the Ukrainian port carrying the crucial commodities that are set to aid the world food crisis incited by anti-Moscow sanctions adopted by the West.
"The 22 July agreement allows for the export of [Russian] fertilizer, including ammonia, but none has been shipped under the Initiative. Since 29 April, no vessel has been allowed to move to the port of Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, one of the three ports included in the Initiative," the statement said, according to Sputnik.
Chief of the World Food Programme (WFP) stressed last year that all nations must cooperate in implementing the grain deal since the world needs Russian grain and fertilizers, whether other countries "love or hate Russia".
"This deal is crucial. Everybody has to cooperate, everybody has a role to play here. I don't care whether you love or hate Russia, we need Russian grain and fertilizer around the world. Otherwise, a whole world will pay a price," David Beasley said then.
Read more: Turkey proposes options to transfer Russian grain to poor countries
The UN-brokered deal, signed by Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine on July 22, 2022, which expires on July 17 awaiting an extension, aimed to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting agriproducts to sail from Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
However, international watchdogs have repeatedly warned that the lion's share of the food produce was delivered to the West, leaving poor countries combined receiving less than one-third of exports.
According to the UN coordinator, under the Initiative; developing and impoverished nations received only 10 percent of corn and 40 percent of wheat, while rich countries obtained 90 percent of corn and 60 percent of wheat.
The coordination center revealed that 29 applications were submitted to export the products from vessels in Turkish waters, yet none was approved by all parties of the deal as its expiry date looms. No new ships were authorized to participate since June 27, the statement added.
Grain deal goal not achieved
In a phone call on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed the South African leader, Cyril Ramaphosa, that the main objective behind the UN-brokered initiative to deliver grain to countries in need has not been achieved.
Obligations to lift barriers preventing Russia's food exports under the Russian-UN memorandum were not implemented, the Kremlin said in a statement, citing the President.
"Moreover, the main goal of the deal, namely grain exports to countries in need, including the ones in Africa, has not been achieved," the Kremlin added.
Despite Turkey voicing optimism about the possibility of extending the agreement, Moscow is yet to accept, as previous terms and conditions laid by Russia and approved by the signing parties were not met, on top of which is regranting access to Russia's Agricultural Bank into SWIFT.
Food prices have surged around the world, increasing concerns of famine in poor countries due to the war in Ukraine, which, along with Russia, is one of the world’s leading grain producers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned earlier that most of the grain exports found their way to the European Union instead of developing countries.
Addressing this issue, Putin at the time announced that Moscow is ready to export potash fertilizers to low-income nations, especially in Africa, free of charge. But vessels carrying Russian produce have been docked in Western ports and prohibited to leave due to sanctions.
