Export of grains depends on Danube navigability – Investments of several hundred million euros needed

Bad infrastructure is limiting the export of agricultural products from Serbia, which is why investments in the regulation of the Danube waterway are needed. These investments are estimated at several hundred million euros and would enable the sailing of boats throughout the year and with it the unobstructed export of grains to the Romanian Port of Constanta, but also to the Western Europe.

This is how Milos Milovanovic, the International Agricultural Policy Consultant and Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), comments in Politika on the burning issues when it comes to exports.

– The yield of corn in Serbia continues to grow. According to estimates, there will be around three million tons for export this year. However, in the peak demand period, the navigability of the Danube was limited due to the low water level. That should make it clear that investments in the regulation of the river waterway need to be made – Milovanovic points out and adds that the export might be blocked again in case of frost in the upcoming months, which would put local boat companies under great pressure to transport large amounts of goods in a short amount of time.

Food and agriculture organization of the United nations

FAO / Organizacija za hranu i poljoprivredu pri UN Italy

EBRD Evropska banka za obnovu i razvoj Beograd

EBRD London

Food and Agriculture Organization

FAO

United Nations and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EBRD

Milos Milovanovic

regulation of the Danube waterway

export of grains down the Danube

low water level on the Danube

frost on the Danube

boat companies

export of corn

corn