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Ukraine is considering transporting grain by rail through Moldova to Romania’s port of Constanta as Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and the Black Sea shipping corridor increasingly disrupt maritime exports, Reuters reported.
Kyiv has asked Moldova to offer a reduced freight tariff for Ukrainian grain shipments, according to sources in both countries on August 11.
Ukrainian and Moldovan officials are discussing a possible transit route that would carry Ukrainian grain by rail through Moldova to Constanta. Kyiv is seeking a 50% discount from the standard tariff, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Moldova has reportedly proposed that Ukraine provide guarantees regarding the volume of grain to be transported. The two sides are still discussing the timing and potential scale of the transit.
“We are currently collecting information on potential volumes from interested shippers. The process is not yet complete,” a senior Ukrainian industry representative told Reuters.
How much grain could be transported
Oleg Tofilat, a former head of Moldova’s railway operator, told Reuters that the rail corridor through Moldova could handle around 4.5 million metric tons of cargo annually.
Ukraine estimates that the route could potentially account for around 10% of its exports. Moldova previously transported Ukrainian grain by rail during 2022–2023.
Moldovan Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Bolea visited Ukraine’s Odesa region on Monday and discussed improving railway connections and expanding the transit network with his Ukrainian counterpart, Mykola Kalashnyk.
The potential rail route comes as Ukraine faces growing difficulties exporting agricultural products through the Black Sea.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports have intensified, while disruptions to maritime routes have raised concerns over the country’s ability to maintain agricultural exports.
Ukraine could export around 29.6 million metric tons of agricultural products during the 2026–27 marketing year, according to previous estimates. That would be 54% below an earlier forecast of 64.4 million tons.
Kyiv is therefore looking for alternative routes to keep grain exports moving, with European partners assisting efforts to expand land-based transit capacity.
