Hungary Opens Grain Transit as EU Maize Crop Hits Two Decade Low

(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Hungary will raise no objections to the transit of Ukrainian grain across its territory, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said, answering a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the European Union braces for its smallest maize harvest in nearly two decades.

Magyar said Zelensky asked Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and all neighbouring countries to allow grain transit as they did three or four years ago at the start of the war. During their personal meeting, Zelensky said it would greatly help if corn could be moved to Western Europe in sealed trains, Magyar told RTL in an interview cited by Reuters.

“I told him that as long as the cargo only transits through the country, there will be no obstacles,” Magyar said.

The European Commission forecast in late August that maize output in the 27 nation bloc would reach 50.1 million metric tonnes this year, the lowest in almost two decades and roughly a fifth below the average of the past three years. Farmers in France and Hungary were hit particularly hard as record heat and drought destroyed maize crops.

Hungary has served as the leading land corridor for Ukrainian grain on the western border. In 2025, Hungary received 9,331 rail wagons carrying 567,000 tonnes of grain through two crossings, with the Chop Zahony checkpoint handling 8,595 wagons and Chop Batevo 736 wagons, according to Ukrainian state railway data. The volume represented a 31% decline compared with 2024.

Ukraine’s grain exports for the 2025/26 marketing year, which ended on 30th June, totalled 41.1 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds, down from 46.7 million tonnes the previous season, according to Ukrainian Grain Association estimates. In monetary terms, exports held at $10 billion, or $18 billion including processed products such as oils, cake and meal.

Maize exports accounted for 21 million tonnes worth $4.6 billion, while wheat shipments reached 14 million tonnes valued at $3 billion. Barley exports stood at 1.52 million tonnes worth $325 million.

The National Bank of Ukraine set the official dollar rate at UAH 44.8871 ($1) for 18th October. At that rate, the $4.6 billion in maize export earnings equates to roughly UAH 206.5 billion.

Ukraine’s autumn sowing campaign for winter crops is under way. As of 14th October, farmers had planted 3.39 million hectares, or 65.1% of the forecast area.