Russia loses 80% of grain export capacity as emergency declared in Rostov region

Russia’s grain sector has lost most of its export capacity after drone attacks disrupted ports on the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, leaving farmers in a major producing region with nowhere to store or ship their harvests.

Authorities in Rostov region declared a state of emergency on August 28. The region supplies nearly 10% of Russia’s grain needs. Its ports previously exported up to 1.5 million tonnes of Russian grain each month, but they have been closed since mid-July because of attacks attributed to Ukrainian drones.

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The situation for farmers looks very bad.

Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar told Interfax that agricultural products had accumulated significantly in the region. He warned that the situation could cause disruptions to people’s lives and substantial material losses. Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Russian Grain Union, said the situation for farmers “looks very bad” and that deliveries to the Azov basin had stopped completely.

The disruption worsened in August when drone damage halted operations at major grain terminals on the Black Sea. Russia has consequently lost an estimated 80% of its grain export capacity. SovEcon said wheat exports fell to 1.9 million tonnes in August, their lowest level in 16 years. Exports were 2.3 times lower than in August 2025 and 2.6 times below the five-year average.

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Deliveries to the Azov basin have been completely stopped.

The shortage of routes has also damaged domestic prices. SovEcon said the average price of fourth-grade wheat in European Russia fell to 8,575 rubles per tonne excluding VAT, down 35% from the start of the season. Storage facilities are overloaded, some grain remains in fields, and farmers are being forced to sell at very low prices.

The Agriculture Ministry said it was preparing state intervention purchases and examining alternative routes, including Arctic ports such as Murmansk. Zlochevsky said practical alternatives were limited. The St. Petersburg grain terminal can handle only 3 million tonnes annually, while Black Sea ports normally process that volume in less than a month.

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The current situation may lead to disruptions in people’s lives and significant material losses.