Another ship loaded with agricultural produce departs from Ukrainian port

ISTANBUL. Aug 18 (Interfax) - The MV I Maria loaded with corn has departed from the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk, the Anadolu agency said on Thursday.

"The MV I Maria under the flag of Belize has departed from the Chornomorsk port with corn onboard in furtherance of the grain agreement," the agency said with the reference to the Turkish Defense Ministry.

Another four ships are due to arrive in Ukraine to take grain aboard.

Turkey has become the biggest importer of Ukrainian agricultural produce supplied from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative; its share reached 26% in the overall shipments, or 146,400 tonnes, on August 1-15, the Ukrainian media said, quoting the Anadolu.

As much as 26% of grain and other foods exported from Ukraine were shipped to Turkey.

The other leading importers of Ukrainian agricultural products in the reporting period were Iran and South Korea, which account for 22% each (123,800 tonnes), China (8%, or 45,000 tonnes), Ireland (6%, or 33,700 tonnes), Italy (5%, or 28,000 tonnes), Djibouti (4%, or 22,500 tonnes), and Romania (2%, or 10,600).

Five ships arrived in the Ukrainian territorial waters on August 17 to take Ukrainian agricultural products aboard. MV Zelek Star, Kafkametler, Ocean S and Great Arsenal dropped the anchor in the Chornomorsk port for loading 56,100 tonnes of agricultural products, while the Zumrut Ana will be waiting on the roadsteads before arriving in the port on August 18.

On July 22, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations signed two documents to create a corridor for grain exports from three Ukrainian seaports: Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhnyi. The parties also established the joint coordination center monitoring food supplies that brings together representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN.

In all, more than 25 ships carrying agricultural produce have sailed out of Ukrainian ports since August 1 consistent with the agreement.