Ukraine seeks renewed grain transit through neighboring EU states
Kyiv has asked Hungary and other neighboring countries to reopen routes for agricultural shipments to Western Europe. Budapest said it could support sealed transit cargo that stays off its domestic market.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar to help restore agricultural transit through Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia during their October 16 talks. inPoland.net.pl reported the request on Saturday, October 17.
Magyar said Hungary was prepared to approve the arrangement provided Ukrainian produce crossed the country without being sold locally. Corn could be carried in sealed trains to buyers and ports elsewhere in Europe under a system similar to the one used at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The proposal comes as reduced Black Sea port capacity forces Ukraine, a major exporter of corn, wheat and sunflower seed, to rely more heavily on land and river corridors. The source said those alternatives were moving only about 45% of the volume intended for export.
European demand may also be affected by a poor corn season. The European Commission projected EU output at 50.1 million tonnes, its weakest level in two decades, after heat and drought damaged crops in several countries. Poland, Romania and other transit states have nevertheless raised concerns about congested infrastructure and pressure on local farmers.