After Russia withdrew from the grain deal, the Romanian port of Constanta became the main alternative route for Ukrainian grain exports. According to the head of the port's business association, Constanta will be able to handle additional cargo by mid-August. This became possible due to the intensification of grain transshipment, which in the first six months of 2023 increased by 24.5% to 15.25 million metric tons, of which 7.5 million tons are Ukrainian grains. Romanian port operators cooperate with Ukraine and other landlocked countries, including Hungary and Serbia.

This increase in transit traffic to Constanta puts pressure on the port, which traditionally exports grain from Romania and its neighbors. However, due to the difference in harvesting time in Romania and Ukraine and the reluctance of some Romanian farmers to sell their crops at low prices, the port of Constanta may continue to handle Ukrainian grain until mid-August.

In order to facilitate efficient grain handling, some port operators are using digital systems to reduce the time required to process customs applications from 48 hours to 30 minutes. Ukraine has also increased capacity at its Danube ports of Reni and Izmail, and is negotiating with railcar operators for a new transshipment system at the Vadul-Siret-Dornesti Ukrainian-Romanian border.

After Russia broke the grain deal on July 17, Ukraine is looking for a new route to transport agricultural products that can pass through the territorial waters of Bulgaria and Romania. President Zelenskyy sent letters to Turkey and the United Nations proposing to continue the grain initiative in a trilateral format to ensure the corridor's functioning and ship inspections.