# BlackSeaNews | Russia's economic war against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov: "loosening the grip" or the fear of catching the virus? –  The monitoring for April 2020

> Russia's average delay for vessels bound for Ukrainian Azov Sea ports fell to 16.6 hours in April 2020, down from a 2019 average of 29.9 hours. Half of the vessels entered the Sea of Azov without the usual long delays, the first time since June 2018. The monthly monitoring report is from the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies.

- Date: 2020-05-16 · published 2020-05-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Black Sea · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/52979-blackseanews-russia-s-economic-war-against-ukraine-in-the-sea-of-azov-loosening
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Shorter delays at Azov ports ease logistics costs and make it easier to move Ukrainian grain. The effect on global prices is small, but it lowers the risk premium tied to the Russian blockade.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: neutral
- WHEAT: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2024-02-29 | [Food as the “Silent Weapon”: Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14324-food-as-the-silent-weapon-russia-s-gains-and-ukraine-s-losses.md) | +6.6% | +0.4% |
| WHEAT | 2022-04-05 | [Supply shock caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine puts strain on various EU agri-food sectors](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41780-supply-shock-caused-by-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-puts-strain-on-various-eu.md) | -2.1% | +3.9% |
| WHEAT | 2022-04-04 | [Prospects for Australian Wheat Exports Amid the Ukraine-Russia Conflict —Australian Institute of International Affairs](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41820-prospects-for-australian-wheat-exports-amid-the-ukraine-russia-conflict.md) | -7.3% | -4.2% |
| WHEAT | 2018-11-26 | [Ukraine's Azov Sea ports operating normally despite tensions with Russia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61920-ukraine-s-azov-sea-ports-operating-normally-despite-tensions-with-russia.md) | +0.6% | +3.2% |
| WHEAT | 2025-03-28 | [Does Ukraine Need a New Black Sea Grain Initiative?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14221-does-ukraine-need-a-new-black-sea-grain-initiative.md) | -1.4% | +2.0% |
| CORN | 2025-03-25 | [Russia, Ukraine agree to avoid attacks on grain ships, energy infrastructure on Black Sea](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14219-russia-ukraine-agree-to-avoid-attacks-on-grain-ships-energy-infrastructure-on.md) | -1.5% | +3.1% |
| CORN | 2024-02-29 | [Food as the “Silent Weapon”: Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14324-food-as-the-silent-weapon-russia-s-gains-and-ukraine-s-losses.md) | +3.7% | +3.8% |
| CORN | 2022-04-05 | [Supply shock caused by Russian invasion of Ukraine puts strain on various EU agri-food sectors](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41780-supply-shock-caused-by-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-puts-strain-on-various-eu.md) | -2.1% | -5.3% |

## Sources

- blackseanews.net: https://www.blackseanews.net/en/read/163757

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.