Ukraine ports hold up grain shipments – 03.09.2010
While Ukraine's government has delayed official quotas on grain exports, it seems the customs at Odessa, Nickolayev, and Ilyichevsk ports have already put a de facto ban in place.
According to the Ukrainian customs department, as many as 20 grain cargoes are being delayed. However, explains Andrew Winkler of Commodore Research, “Higher levels of the agriculture department and the economic ministry would seem to be implicated in the red tape that is holding up these shipments.”
He says although there are no apparent quotas in place, these groups have favoured a "wait and see" approach, passing on directives down to customs officials who in turn execute the orders.
The customs processes at these ports have had significant delays in issuing permits for export and there has even been the introduction of new inspections not dictated by any precedents. At present, around 1m tonnes of grain is being held in the ports themselves, with ships at anchor holding about half that amount again. A further 300,000 tons has been held up in rail cars.
Mr Winkler adds that these amounts roughly total government quotas that were proposed in the middle of August but never acted upon.
This put wheat exports as likely to be limited to 1.5m tonnes, barley to 1m tonnes, and rye to 10,000 tonnes from 1 September to 31 December. However, it seems the Ukrainian government delayed official quotas in order to allow the economics of the grain market to drive demand – wheat commanding high prices at present.
Ðortstrategy
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