# Ship Chokepoint in Focus as Russia-Ukraine Tensions Flare-Up

> Russia's blockade of the Kerch Strait during its tensions with Ukraine has cut access to the Sea of Azov. The Azov ports handle about 7 million tonnes of Russian and Ukrainian grain, and Chicago wheat futures rose 1% on the day. Analysts expect the effect on grain markets to be relatively limited.

- Date: 2018-11-26 · published 2018-11-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Black Sea · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/61918-ship-chokepoint-in-focus-as-russia-ukraine-tensions-flare-up
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

The strait is a route for Black Sea grain, so disruption can lift freight rates and add to wheat's risk premium. Analysts see Russia as unlikely to block its own cargoes for long, which caps the price effect.

## Read by commodity

- WHEAT: bullish ▲
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2023-07-20 | [Wheat prices soar as Russia-Ukraine tensions stoke food crisis fears](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35082-wheat-prices-soar-as-russia-ukraine-tensions-stoke-food-crisis-fears.md) | -0.7% | -1.3% |
| WHEAT | 2023-05-03 | [GRAINS-Wheat rallies as tensions rise between Russia, Ukraine \| Kitco News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7381-grains-wheat-rallies-as-tensions-rise-between-russia-ukraine-kitco-news.md) | -0.5% | -4.7% |
| WHEAT | 2023-08-07 | [The Commodities Feed: Russia-Ukraine tensions add to oil supply risks \| articles \| ING THINK](https://feedsoft.ai/events/34496-the-commodities-feed-russia-ukraine-tensions-add-to-oil-supply-risks-articles.md) | +0.5% | -6.9% |
| WHEAT | 2023-07-19 | [Wheat Futures Rise 9% as Russia Threatens Ships Headed to Ukraine - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35084-wheat-futures-rise-9-as-russia-threatens-ships-headed-to-ukraine-bloomberg.md) | +1.6% | +0.1% |
| WHEAT | 2022-01-31 | [Russia-Ukraine Tensions Drive Global Wheat Prices Higher](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43173-russia-ukraine-tensions-drive-global-wheat-prices-higher.md) | -1.7% | +0.5% |

## Sources

- themoscowtimes.com: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/11/26/ship-chokepoint-in-focus-as-russia-ukraine-tensions-flare-up-a63592

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