MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. Rail shipments of grain to the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny (the so-called Greater Odessa region) fell by 84.3% in the first five days of August compared to the same period in July to 40,800 tons, Spike Brokers, a Ukrainian brokerage firm acting as a commercial agent in the country’s grain and oilseed markets, reported on Telegram.

In the first five days of August a total of 182,000 tons of grain and milled products were transported by rail, which is 44.1% lower than in the same period in July. "Data from Ukrzheldoroga for the first five days of the month show a sharp drop in the flow of grain by rail to seaports, whereas overland rail crossings and road exports are operating more actively," the report said.

From August 1 to 5, 59,600 tons of agricultural products were exported via overland logistics channels through road border crossings compared to 53,600 tons in the same period in July (an increase of 11.3%). According to Spike Brokers, the average daily transfer of grain cargoes and grain products across border crossings during the first five days of August amounted to 142 railcars, up from 139 railcars in July.

The largest increase in volume was recorded on the route to Romania, rising to 31.2 railcars per day, an increase of 29.3 railcars over the July level. Poland increased the handover rate to 27.4 railcars per day (+13.8). Hungary and Slovakia reduced the figure to 23 railcars per day (-15.9) and to 14.2 railcars per day (-2.7), respectively. The number of grain railcars accumulating toward the border rose from 369 to 521, an increase of 41.2%.

"In contrast to the weaker overall pace of agricultural exports, the road transport channel started August more actively than July. However, its absolute capacity remains insufficient to offset the reduction in large-volume grain flows through seaports," according to the report. Increased activity was also recorded on the Danube route as the number of grain railcars increased to 1,296 (+155), with the average daily unloading rate up to 157 wagons (+106).