August 28, 2026 — Grain buyers are increasingly turning to the Baltic states for wheat as continued tensions in the Black Sea disrupt shipments from Russia and Ukraine.

Around 1 million tons of wheat have been booked for loading at ports in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia so far this August, according to market observer CM Navigator. The volume is about 50 percent higher than the same period last year and follows a threefold increase in bookings in July.

Buyers from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan, which traditionally source large amounts of wheat from Russia, have shown increased interest in Baltic supplies. Demand has also risen from regular Baltic grain customers, including Nigeria and South Africa.

The shift comes as attacks involving Russia and Ukraine continue to affect shipping and port infrastructure in the Black Sea, reducing grain exports and raising concerns over global supplies. Wheat prices have also climbed to a three-year high. Baltic countries are expected to have about 6 million tons of wheat available for export this season, although their grain remains more expensive than Russian supplies.