Збут зерна до Констанци може досягти 70 доларів за тонну, що перетворить пшеницю на неприбуткову культуру — SuperAgronom.com

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Photo: SuperAgronom.com

Following the planned 30% indexation of Ukrzaliznytsia’s freight tariffs, the cost of grain delivery to the port of Constanța (Romania) may increase to $60–70/ton. This is stated in an appeal from the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (VAR) and the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Serhii Shmyhal.

Copies of the appeal were also sent to the Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, Mykola Kubrakov, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi, and the Chairman of the Board of JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” Oleksandr Kubrakov.

Agricultural associations are requesting a postponement of the effective date of the order, which provides for a 30% increase in freight rail transport tariffs and a 60% increase in the cost of empty wagon runs.

According to them, after the blockade of some sea routes, the logistical costs for agricultural producers in the western direction have already increased by $40–60/ton.

“Together with the additional 30% tariff increase, the cost of delivering a ton of grain to the port of Constanța (Romania) will cost the farmer $60–70, with the price of wheat grain at the port being $210 per ton. This means the farmer will be left with $140–150 per ton of wheat, making its cultivation unprofitable,” the appeal states.

VAR and UCAB emphasize that the tariff increase is occurring against the backdrop of attacks on port infrastructure, rising production costs, and falling prices for agricultural products.

Furthermore, the associations draw attention to the limited capacity of western border crossings. According to Ukrzaliznytsia’s estimates, they can handle the transportation of about 1 million tons of agricultural products per month, while the need is 5.6 million tons. The average monthly export in 2025/26 MY was 4.1 million tons.

In the opinion of agricultural associations, the tariff indexation will not improve Ukrzaliznytsia’s financial situation, as it will not lead to an increase in transportation volumes. Instead, it may provoke a buildup of wagons at border crossings and a new rise in their rental costs.

The appeal also proposes to postpone the tariff increase, revise the tariff-setting model, and implement an electronic queue for loading towards western border crossings in accordance with their throughput capacity.