Estonia bans transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through its ports

TALLINN - The Estonian government decided on Thursday to impose a national sanction prohibiting the transit of grain originating from Russia and Belarus through Estonia.

Russia is seeking new export routes for its grain besides the Black Sea, but Estonian ports will not become one of them.

"Russia is attacking Ukrainian ports and preventing Ukrainian grain from reaching the world market. It would be cynical to allow it to export its own grain through our ports at the same time. Estonia will not permit this," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.

According to Tsahkna, Estonia's position has been clear. "We already said in September that there is no point in making plans to transport Russian grain through Estonia. Now, we are putting a definitive end to it with a national sanction. We will not help Russia mitigate the consequences of a war it started itself."

The transit of Russian grain through Estonia has so far been virtually non-existent. However, Russia is seeking new export routes, and there is interest in using Estonian ports. The ban ensures that Estonia will not become a new transit route for Russian grain.

"We are working with Latvia and Lithuania to ensure that the transit of Russian grain does not occur through the ports of the Baltic states. The Baltic states cannot allow Russia's war economy to be supported through our ports," Tsahkna emphasized.

In 2024, the European Union imposed tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain products with the aim of halting their import into the EU. However, the tariffs do not completely prevent the transit of grain through the European Union to third countries.

The ban is established by amending Regulation No. 93 of September 29, 2022, "Imposition of a Government of the Republic Sanction Prohibiting the Purchase of Goods in Connection with the Aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, Supported by the Republic of Belarus". The sanction prohibits the transit through Estonia of grain belonging to CN commodity group 10 originating from Russia and Belarus.

The regulation will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Riigi Teataja (State Gazette).