Russia is exporting grain through the Arctic port of Murmansk for the first time in an attempt to circumvent logistical challenges on routes through the Black and Baltic Seas, Reuters reports. The first shipment, consisting of 3,400 tons of grain, is currently being loaded in Murmansk, a port nearly 2,000 kilometers north of Moscow and not far from the Norwegian border. The route was previously used during World War II, when the Allies delivered supplies to the Soviet Union via Murmansk. Now, the Kremlin is seeking to develop it as an alternative export corridor of its own. The move comes amid disruptions to established logistics in the Black Sea as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine. In the Baltic Sea, Moscow fears new risks arising from the presence of NATO member states. For now, however, the track should be seen as an experiment rather than a full-scale replacement for traditional tracks. A shipment of 3,400 tons is negligible for one of the world's largest grain exporters. According to Reuters, preparations are also underway in Murmansk for the shipment of about 28,000 tons of wheat to Morocco. The harbor remains ice-free all year round, and vessels can reach it through neutral waters without entering the Baltic Sea. However, the grain must be transported by train from southern Russia, a journey spanning thousands of kilometers. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine estimates that this adds $18-25 per ton to costs. Analysts estimate that Murmansk could potentially handle between 0.7 million and 1.1 million tons of grain a year - a fraction of the more than 46 million tons previously exported through the Black Azov Sea basin. While the new route may provide some relief to Moscow, it cannot replace the southern ports.

Russia is exporting grain through the Arctic port of Murmansk for the first time in an attempt to circumvent logistical challenges on routes through the Black and Baltic Seas, Reuters reports. The first shipment, consisting of 3,400 tons of grain, is currently being loaded in Murmansk, a port nearly 2,000 kilometers north of Moscow and not far from the Norwegian border. The route was previously used during World War II, when the Allies delivered supplies to the Soviet Union via Murmansk. Now, the Kremlin is seeking to develop it as an alternative export corridor of its own. The move comes amid disruptions to established logistics in the Black Sea as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine. In the Baltic Sea, Moscow fears new risks arising from the presence of NATO member states. For now, however, the track should be seen as an experiment rather than a full-scale replacement for traditional tracks. A shipment of 3,400 tons is negligible for one of the world's largest grain exporters. According to Reuters, preparations are also underway in Murmansk for the shipment of about 28,000 tons of wheat to Morocco. The harbor remains ice-free all year round, and vessels can reach it through neutral waters without entering the Baltic Sea. However, the grain must be transported by train from southern Russia, a journey spanning thousands of kilometers. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine estimates that this adds $18-25 per ton to costs. Analysts estimate that Murmansk could potentially handle between 0.7 million and 1.1 million tons of grain a year - a fraction of the more than 46 million tons previously exported through the Black Azov Sea basin. While the new route may provide some relief to Moscow, it cannot replace the southern ports.