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According to the Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC), a leading non-governmental organization, systematic shelling, long-range missile strikes, and drone attacks by Russian armed forces have been deliberately targeting logistical infrastructure, directly and severely disrupting vegetable oil supply and export chains.
A recent report from the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) highlights the paralysis of operations at Odessa ports, which handle the bulk of Ukraine's vegetable oil and grain exports. The report notes that several oil storage tanks belonging to major international corporations — including Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Bunge — have been damaged or destroyed, significantly curtailing storage and shipping capacity.
The impact on Ukraine's sunflower oil exports has been particularly severe. Ukraine is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of sunflower oil, and the disruption of its Black Sea port operations threatens the country's ability to meet its 2026 export commitments to key markets across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Industry sources indicate that several shipping companies have suspended or significantly reduced their port calls at Odessa and other Ukrainian Black Sea ports due to the escalating security risks, further compounding the logistical crisis facing the sector.
The damage to storage and handling infrastructure will require significant time and investment to repair, with some experts warning that the impact on Ukraine's vegetable oil export capacity could extend well into 2027 if the conflict continues at its current intensity.
