Market News & Headlines >> Temporary Restrictions on Ukraine Grain Exports to 5 Countries

The European Commission (EC) on Tuesday announced temporary restrictions on exports of Ukrainian grain to five neighboring countries after earlier reaching a deal with those countries to allow the resumption of transit of Ukrainian grain through their territories to other destinations.

The European Union executive body said it had set restrictions until June 5 on shipments of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia in order to ease excess supplies in those countries.

The EC said that during that period, Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seed can still be sold to any other European Union countries. The transit of these goods via the five countries to other parts of the European Union or other countries outside it is still permitted, the Commission said.

In deference to the EC ban, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia agreed to lift unilateral bans they had earlier imposed on entry of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed.