Russia Reverts to Arctic Grain Export Route For the First Time Since WW2

Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, has turned to an Arctic World War II shipping route to export grain for the first time as the conflict in Ukraine stalls Black Sea trade and officials warn of risks in the NATO-controlled Baltic Sea.

Russia and Ukraine have been attacking each other's ports and vessels since the new grain marketing season started in July, bringing the once booming Black Sea agriculture trade to a standstill.

Russia, keen to keep its key grain customers in the Middle East and Asia, sought to reroute exports to Baltic Sea ports, subsidising rail transport from fertile southern regions, but also eyed opportunities in the Arctic.

Murmansk Commercial Seaport and Demetra Holding, one of the country's largest trading firms, said on Wednesday that the first shipment of 3,400 metric tons of grain from "key agricultural regions" is being loaded onto a vessel.

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