Fearing Ukrainian drone attacks, Russia's largest import-export port restricts nighttime navigation

Russia has imposed nighttime navigation restrictions at its largest port, Novorossiysk, a critical hub for grain, oil, and metal exports. The move comes in response to frequent Ukrainian drone attacks targeting key infrastructure.

Sources in the grain industry revealed that ships are now prohibited from entering or leaving the Black Sea port between midnight and 5 a.m. This order was communicated verbally, without formal documentation issued to shipping operators. Operations outside these hours, including grain loading, remain unaffected.

The Novorossiysk port handles one-third of Russia's grain exports and is a vital transit point for other commodities. Earlier this month, Russia also implemented navigation restrictions in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. These combined measures are expected to increase the importance of the Novorossiysk port, as anticipated grain exports from the Sea of Azov may be rerouted there. Consequently, Euronext September wheat futures saw a 4.5% increase following the news of the nighttime ban.