Estonia discusses joint Baltic steps to limit Russian grain exports

Estonia is discussing a joint approach with Latvia and Lithuania to restrict Russian grain exports through the Baltic states, although virtually no Russian grain is currently transiting Estonia, Prime Minister Kristen Michal told ERR.

Latvia and Lithuania have pledged to take steps to stop Russian grain exports through their ports. Russia has increased grain transit through the Baltic Sea after Ukrainian attacks largely halted the transport of Russian grain across the Black Sea.

Latvia’s government plans to impose a 300 percent tariff on Russian and Belarusian grain shipments and their processing, Latvia’s public broadcaster LSM reported on Monday. It also plans to develop mechanisms to identify potentially stolen Ukrainian grain and impose sanctions on it.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Latvia wanted the Baltic states to adopt a common position so that Russian grain could not use the region’s infrastructure. He has already discussed the issue with Estonia’s prime minister and plans to speak with Lithuania’s head of government.

“Estonia’s position is clear: we do not consider it acceptable for Russia to use Estonian ports to export its grain,” Michal said in a written comment to ERR. “Russia bears sole responsibility for the security situation in the Black Sea, which has seriously disrupted both Ukrainian and Russian grain exports. It would be cynical if Russia could simultaneously redirect its grain exports through the ports of the Baltic states. We are discussing a joint approach with Latvia and Lithuania and reviewing what steps we can take in Estonia.”

Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also told ERR that Russian grain transit through Estonia was essentially non-existent. The ministry said Estonia was working with Latvia and Lithuania on a common solution to block the transit of Russian grain through Baltic ports and prevent the export of grain stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Pavel Prokopenko, head of media relations at Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board, said Russian grain was not being transported through Estonia. Since the start of the full-scale war, no grain had been imported into Estonia from Russia and no such transit had taken place through the country, he said. Imports had also been relatively low before the war, while high duties on Russian-origin grain made importing it into the European Union unattractive for Russia, Prokopenko said.

Transit expert Raivo Vare said Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had substantial grain-processing capacity. Estonia has capacity for 5.5 million tonnes, while Latvia and Lithuania each have roughly two to three million tonnes, he said.

Vare said Baltic ports offered better-quality services than Russian ports and were better positioned logistically for markets where grain is shipped, including across the Atlantic, to the east coast of Africa and elsewhere in Europe.

He also pointed to a grain terminal and deep-water quays at Muuga Port, a port facility, saying the terminal was built in 1986 and later expanded. It was considered the world’s most modern at the time and remained at a high level, Vare said. The facility can accommodate large grain carriers.