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“doing everything to ruin our agriculture potential and to provoke a food crisis not only in Ukraine but in the world”. On top of diesel and fertiliser shortages (crops sown last autumn need fertilising now), farm equipment has been stolen or destroyed and the Russians have sown landmines in fields. The rest of the world will also be short of fertilisers, such as urea and potash. Russia is one of the main suppliers of these. The country previously stopped exporting one type of fertiliser, ammonium nitrate, ostensibly to protect its own farmers from rising costs. It has now said it will suspend further fertiliser exports. While these have not been sanctioned yet, Russia’s suspension of fertiliser exports will, to varying degrees, affect every grain and wheat growing area. So, whatever the short- to mediumterm impacts of the war, the cumulative effects of less production in Ukraine, a shortage of fertilisers for current and future sowings, plus Russian weaponisation of its own crop, will be that the cost of grain will be higher in the future. While much of the focus has been on grain, Reuters reports that EU countries hunt for global coal stocks as a ban on Russian coal looms – although that will not take full effect until mid-August, a month later than expected following pressure from Germany. That said, in all probability Russia’s Chinese and Indian allies will make good any shortfall to the Russian exchequer then – the former especially in view of their spat with Australia. The effects of the war in Ukraine are bound to feature heavily in discussions this October at our annual conference: Bulk Terminals 2022 Riga, kindly hosted by the Freeport of Riga Authority. The conference proper from Wednesday 5Thursday 6 October will be preceded by a pre-conference terminal visit for early arrivals on Tuesday 4 October The conference always sets the scene with an analysis of bulk markets. It continues with a full programme focused on the concerns of operators, each year offering sound practical solutions for improving safety; streamlining
operations and digitalisation; development opportunities and ensuring environmental protection. Naturally, the ongoing effect of covid19 on bulk terminal operations as well as the fallout from the war in Ukraine will also be covered. We had hoped to visit Riga last year, but had to move the conference online. Given the importance to Latvian and Baltic ports of transit cargoes, rail and transport connectivity will also be covered in Bulk Terminals 2022 Riga– especially given the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine may have had. China’s plans to ramp up export goods to Europe by rail – the muchvaunted Belt and Road initiative – have suffered a major setback. Rail shipments that pass through Russia have dropped through the floor. While the EU has not sanctioned imports passing through Russia, freight forwarders are increasingly in anticipation of this seeking alternative routes to market. Good news for shipping. Similarly, China’s dispute with Lithuania has regional and EU implications. China – as we know from their issues with Australia – is prepared to use its massive clout when it comes to trade and commodities in pursuance of political objectives. Beijing has denied ordering a trade boycott, but the European Commission says it has evidence that China is refusing to clear Lithuanian goods through customs, rejecting import applications and pressuring EU companies to remove Lithuanian inputs from their supply chains. The EU has now taken the case to the World Trade Organization, which could take some time to resolve. Time will tell what the outcomes of the war in Ukraine, trade disputes with China and the ongoing impact of covid-19 will be. Bulk Terminals 2022 Riga will examine the fallout, regionally and internationally. It’s the only event all those concerned with the bulk terminals industry need to attend this year. Earlier this year in collaboration with our friends at The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology,
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we held Biomass Operations and Handling Technologies and Port and Terminal Operations for Bulk Cargoes, both online. On Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 September we will be holding Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership: how to Avoid Future Problems and Buy Bulk Solids Handling Equipment Intelligently, together with The Wolfson Centre and the Solids Handling and Processing Association. I am grateful to IMechE for their support for all our events. Our friends at The Wolfson Centre are also looking forward to a move back to physical events, with Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Materials and Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials. These two popular courses cover a variety of essential topics, giving a good base knowledge to the new recruit, or a valuable learning experience to the more experienced engineer. They will also be available online. Similarly, one of our partner associations, the Materials Handling Engineers Association (MHEA) is delighted to announce the launch of BulkEx 22 on 18 -19 October 2022 as a physical event. Our other partner association, ICHCA International, will be holding the next ICHCA Technical Panel meeting on 19 May 2022. To register an interest in attending any of ABTO’s events or short training courses, please contact events@ bulkterminals.org +33 (0)3 21 47 72 19. Keep an eye on the Events section of our website at bulkterminals.org for developments and registration details. Follow the links in the Partners section of our website for details of their activities and events. Enjoy our spring edition of Bulk Terminals International. Keep in touch and, especially in today’s world, stay safe.
Simon Gutteridge Chief Executive, ABTO Tel: +33 (0)321 47 72 19 Email: ce@bulkterminals.org Web: bulkterminals.org
BULK TERMINALS
international | SPRING 2022
