Grain Market Set to Stabilise as Two More Wheat Shipments Arrive

The cost of bread is set to ease further after Ukraine ambassador to Kenya Andrii Pravednyk announced that two more vessels with consignment of wheat are set to call at the Port of Mombasa.

On Tuesday Kenya received 51,400 wheat imports from Ukraine for the first time since Russia launched a military invasion against Ukraine in February 2022.

The “Super Henry” vessel was received at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) by a Ukrainian envoy in collaboration with officials from the agency. The bulk carrier, Super Henry, arrived at the coast on October 17.

A second ship, Eaubonne, ferrying 53,300 tonnes of wheat, left the Port of Odesa on Monday, October 16. Pravedbyk said a third ship will also be docking at the Port of Mombasa with wheat before the end of the year.

He said under the grain initiative, Ukraine plans to deliver over 1.1 million tonnes of wheat to African countries.

“It is the first shipment of Ukrainian wheat to Kenya since Russia launched a military invasion against Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain suppliers, with the share in global trade around 10 percent,” said Pravednyk.

The war against Ukraine has affected about 25 percent of the world cereal trade, caused an increase in world prices, food inflation, and reduced access to food in the countries that import food from Ukraine, in particular wheat and sunflower oil.

Last year, Kenya imported about 2.4 million tonnes of wheat, so Ukrainian share comprised around 15percent. in the overall Kenyan wheat import balance.

As per UN World Food Programme Report of August 2022, 4.1 million Kenyans are acutely food insecure, which requires immediate and resolute actions.

“We are confident that arrival of “Super Henry” to the Port of Mombasa with 51,400 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat on board will bring significant relief to Kenyan consumers, helping to mitigate the prices and remove the deficit,” said Pravednyk.

Missile strikes and shelling by Russian troops has damaged and destroyed dozens of farms, stocks of food and seed, silos, warehouses, oil depots, agriculture machinery and equipment.  At least 90 agribusinesses have been damaged in Ukraine.

Speaking at KPA berth 4, Pravednyk said Russia has already damaged or completely destroyed about four million tonnes of the country’s grain storage capacity.