UN expects “big uptick” in ships wanting to export Ukraine grain

The United Nations expects a "big uptick" in ships wanting to export Ukraine grain through the Black Sea after transit procedures were agreed to and a goal of 2.5 million tonnes a month is "achievable," a senior UN official said on Wednesday.

Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations agreed on transit procedures on Monday for a deal struck last month to resume Ukraine's Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports. The procedures include a 10 nautical mile protection zone for ships.

"We're expecting to see a big uptick in applications for transit," said Frederick Kenney, interim UN Coordinator at the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which oversees the deal.

So far 12 ships stuck in Ukraine since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion have been authorized to leave and another four vessels approved to travel to Ukraine. Kenney told reporters the number of inbound ships was expected to grow as grain sales are agreed.

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