Russian faces grain crisis as Ukraine boosts taxes

Russian grain shipments through Black Sea ports could be in jeopardy after Ukraine’s state railways imposed extra cargo payments, according to the Ukrainian Grain Traders` Union.

According to Russia Today, the railway is demanding payment for storing grain while it`s waiting to be unloaded near Ukrainian ports.  Ukrainian companies have stopped buying and shipping Russian grain as a result.

In June, Ukraine`s government introduced high grain export quotas, to conserve domestic stocks.  That allowed Russia and Kazakhstan to boost shipments.

Grain transit through Ukrainian Black Sea ports increased by 11 percent in the first two weeks of November alone.