# bne IntelliNews - Shipping in Kerch straits comes to a halt, Ukraine’s Sea of Azov ports at a standstill

> AIS ship-tracking data shows dozens of vessels stalled at the Kerch Strait after Russia's coastguard rammed a Ukrainian naval tug. Unconfirmed reports say Ukrainian Sea of Azov ports such as Berdyansk and Mariupol are effectively blockaded. The Kremlin denies restricting shipping.

- Date: 2018-11-30 · published 2018-11-30T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Black Sea · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/61919-bne-intellinews-shipping-in-kerch-straits-comes-to-a-halt-ukraine-s-sea-of-azov
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

A real blockade would halt grain and other bulk loadings from two Ukrainian ports and raise freight and insurance costs for Azov routes. The claims are unconfirmed, but the risk supports wheat and ocean freight prices.

## Read by commodity

- WHEAT: bullish ▲
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2022-05-26 | [Black Sea ports still the best way to get Ukraine's grain moving fast \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14484-black-sea-ports-still-the-best-way-to-get-ukraine-s-grain-moving-fast-reuters.md) | -1.9% | -2.9% |
| WHEAT | 2026-07-30 | [Strait of Hormuz and drone threats to global shipping](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16801-strait-of-hormuz-and-drone-threats-to-global-shipping.md) | -1.4% | +4.8% |
| WHEAT | 2025-12-19 | [Strikes on Odesa region ports slow down shipments and increase logistics costs for grain producers \| Ukrainian and World Shipping News - Ukrainian Shipping Magazine - Ukrainian and World Shipping News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21509-strikes-on-odesa-region-ports-slow-down-shipments-and-increase-logistics-costs.md) | +0.9% | +0.4% |
| WHEAT | 2023-03-17 | [Russia Still Slow-Walking Ukraine Food Exports in Black Sea Grain Deal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14410-russia-still-slow-walking-ukraine-food-exports-in-black-sea-grain-deal.md) | -3.7% | -6.8% |
| WHEAT | 2023-07-28 | [Satellite images reveal damage to Ukraine grain ports](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14381-satellite-images-reveal-damage-to-ukraine-grain-ports.md) | -0.1% | -2.1% |

## Sources

- intellinews.com: https://www.intellinews.com/shipping-in-kerch-straits-comes-to-a-halt-ukraine-s-sea-of-azov-ports-at-a-standstill-152838/

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