Danube’s Potential for Grain Exports – meeting with FAO and UGA at DC Secretariat

29 September 2026 | Brussels – the DC Secretariat welcomed representatives of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and UGA (Ukrainian Grain Association) to discuss the Danube’s potential for an increased grain production in the Danube region as well as the reliability of grain export routes amid security challenges surrounding Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea and the need for reliable alternative corridors.

Discussions highlighted the region’s vast untapped agricultural production potential, particularly in Ukraine, Serbia and Romania. However, severe climate change impacts and unprecedented low-water periods threaten the Danube’s transport capacity, reducing vessel drafts and discouraging barge operators. The DC Secretariat outlined the measures already undertaken to make navigation on the Danube more resilient to periods of extremely low water levels, as well as those yet to be implemented.

To effectively capture this grain potential and overcome current constraints, participants emphasized the need for targeted infrastructure investments and enhanced regional coordination. The Danube Commission will play an important coordinating role in this regard.

The Danube Commission and the FAO are planning to organise a joint conference in Budapest in May 2027, bringing together private companies, national and EU representatives to coordinate cooperation between the public and private sectors and to highlight the importance of the Danube as a lifeline for food supplies.