KYIV, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Ukrainian grain exports fell sharply to 1.45 million metric tons in the Sept. 1-21 period from around 2.94 million tons in the corresponding period in 2022, agriculture ministry data showed on Friday.
The ministry gave no explanation for the fall.
Traders and agricultural unions have said that Ukrainian Black Sea ports being blocked and recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube River are the main reasons for the reduced exports.
The ministry data showed that Ukraine exported a total of 6 million tons of grain so far in the 2023/24 July-June season versus 7.2 million in the same period in 2022/23.
The volume included 2.9 million tons of wheat, 2.5 million tons of corn and 596,000 tons of barley.
Ukraine has traditionally shipped most of its exports through its deep water Black Sea ports.
A deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey which had allowed such exports collapsed in July as Russia walked away from it, saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertiliser exports had not been met.
Ukraine can currently export limited volumes through small river ports on the Danube and via its western land border with the European Union.
Ukraine is expected to harvest at least 80 million tons of grain and oilseed in 2023 and the 2023/24 exportable surplus totals around 50 million tons. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk. Editing by Jane Merriman)
