The export of agricultural products via the Black Sea corridor has reached pre-war levels.

After the Russian Federation withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last summer, 1,300 ships have carried 25 million tons of farm products through the temporary sea route created by Ukraine and its international partners.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsia, said: “This exceeds the volume of exports for the entire year of the Black Sea Grain Initiative’s operation”. During this period, exports traveled to 40 countries and have already reached pre-war volumes, while Ukraine works to increase throughput.

The diplomat added that about 400 million people depend on Ukrainian food exports. To date, the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian initiative has sent eight ships with more than 200,000 tons of grain to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen, Nigeria, and Sudan.