Ukraine tries to export grain and metal products from the blockaded Black Sea and Azov Seaports

Since the outbreak of Russia's conflict against Ukraine, Ukraine's seaports have been blocked owing to the danger of mines and piracy from Russian ships. Since then, cargo transshipment has been reduced to a bare minimum.

After Russia barred Ukrainian ports on the Black and Azov Seas, Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure met with his Baltic and Polish counterparts to examine the possibilities of constructing additional transit channels.

According to Estonia's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Ukraine is attempting to establish a trade corridor with the Baltics to divert cargo away from the blockaded Black Sea and Azov Seaports.

Ministers from the Baltic nations, Poland, and Ukraine met to explore the establishment of a new transportation corridor. Ukraine, in particular, wants to keep exporting grain and metals to the international market.

"There is a willingness, but there are various technical issues that must be addressed so that Ukrainians can ship the necessary quantities of products," Taavi Aas said, according to Interfax, quoting the ERR broadcaster. He went on to say that Ukraine is particularly looking for methods to enter the global market for grains and metal products.

According to the Estonian Minister, Baltic seaports may be utilized, and depending on the type of cargo, the cargo could subsequently be delivered by rail. According to him, in order to increase the number of trains, the problem of rail border crossing must be addressed first, as well as the issue of differing track widths.

The challenges with crossing the border by train are the first to be addressed. Different track widths are available. The railway gauge in Europe is 1435 mm, but it is 1520 mm in Ukraine. The gauge in the Baltic countries is 1520 mm, but it is 1435 mm in Poland, requiring double freight reloading from wagon to wagon.

"It's probably time for the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) to establish a regular cargo train that could carry Ukrainian cargo if necessary," Aas said. He went on to stress that the agreements with Latvian and Lithuanian partners should be signed as soon as feasible as well.

The Baltic countries and Poland will continue to collaborate with the transportation sector, particularly railway and port authorities, to find solutions to bottlenecks and provide services to Ukraine.