Russia adapts Baltic, Arctic ports for grain exports after Black Sea disruptions

BSMZ: BSMZ operates a terminal at the port of St. Petersburg. It has started accepting grain cargo as part of the adaptation of existing facilities to support redirected exports. Modul: Modul is a terminal operator at the port of St. Petersburg. It has begun handling grain shipments in containers, expanding the available capacity at northern ports previously unused for this commodity. Russia: Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter and a major global supplier of grain commodities. In this development, the country is adapting terminals at Baltic and Arctic ports to sustain grain shipments after Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted traditional Black Sea routes. Demetra: Demetra is Russia's largest grain trading and logistics company. It is actively rerouting grain shipments to the adapted Ultramar terminal on the Baltic Sea as part of the broader shift away from Black Sea ports. Ultramar: Ultramar operates a private terminal at the port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, previously focused on mineral fertilizers. It has been converted to handle grain exports since August and is now receiving rail shipments destined for markets including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Oksana Lut: Oksana Lut serves as Russia's Agriculture Minister. She has publicly stated that the country is successfully re-routing grain exports through alternative routes including the Baltic Sea without major disruptions. Susan Fenton: Susan Fenton is a Reuters editor specializing in global markets and agriculture. She provided editing support for the report on port terminal conversions. Gleb Bryanski: Gleb Bryanski is a Reuters journalist focused on Russian affairs. He contributed reporting to this article detailing Russia's logistics adjustments amid Black Sea disruptions. Ilan Goldfajn: Ilan Goldfajn is President of the Inter-American Development Bank. He announced a new two-year engagement plan with Venezuela emphasizing electricity and social protection initiatives. Gleb Stolyarov: Gleb Stolyarov is a Reuters journalist covering Russian economic and agricultural developments. He co-authored this exclusive report on port adaptations for grain exports. Veronica Brown: Veronica Brown is a Reuters editor handling international commodity and trade coverage. She edited this story on Russian grain export rerouting. Russian Railways: Russian Railways manages the national rail network and is prioritizing grain transport to adapted Baltic and Arctic ports. It has approved initial shipments to Murmansk and is supporting the rerouting with state-backed logistics. Russian Transport Ministry: The Russian Transport Ministry oversees national port and cargo logistics policies. It has discussed redirecting major grain traders like Demetra to converted Baltic terminals as part of contingency planning. Policy Support: Russian government priorities and rail operator coordination are enabling quicker shifts in commodity logistics to alternative destinations. Export Resilience: Russia is leveraging its network of ice-free Arctic ports and Baltic facilities to maintain grain trade flows despite heightened risks in primary southern routes. Infrastructure Flexibility: Existing cargo terminals are being repurposed across multiple northern ports to accommodate grain without requiring extensive new construction.