Russia revives WWII-era Arctic route to ship 28,000 tonnes of wheat to Morocco

On Wednesday, October 28, a 47-car train arrived in Murmansk carrying 3,400 tonnes of wheat from Russia’s major agricultural regions. It is a first for the commercial port, which is accustomed to handling coal, ores and other goods.

The Moroccan destination appears in shipping data reviewed by Reuters. A vessel is due to load around 28,000 tonnes of wheat there before heading to Casablanca. The 3,400 tonnes announced Wednesday are the first delivery by rail, while 28,000 tonnes is the planned volume for the sea shipment.

Located nearly 2,000 kilometers north of Moscow, not far from Norway, Murmansk has a distinctive past. During World War II, Allied convoys delivered weapons, vehicles and supplies there for the Red Army. Today, Russia is using the same maritime outlet to ship its harvests.

War in Ukraine disrupts wheat routes

Since the start of the grain season in July, attacks on ports and ships in the Black Sea have disrupted Russian and Ukrainian exports. Moscow has therefore increased shipments from the Baltic while seeking routes farther north.

In September, Baltic ports handled 1.2 million tonnes of grain, or more than 60% of Russia’s seaborne grain exports. Several terminals previously dedicated to coal or fertilizers have been adapted to transport wheat.

In Murmansk, the transformation is already visible. According to Interfax, operators are using equipment to transfer grain from railcars into ships’ holds. Demetra Holding has launched the first loading operations.

On Bladi.net : Russia Turns to Morocco for Fuel as 96,000 Tonnes of Gasoline Arrive

This new traffic to Casablanca comes just weeks after goods moved in the opposite direction. In September, three tankers carried 96,000 tonnes of gasoline loaded at Tanger Med to Russia. Their destinations included Saint Petersburg and Murmansk, the same Arctic port now being used to ship wheat to Morocco.