MSC suspends Russia’s Black Sea port service after drone strike

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. ↘ 0.40%, the world's largest container shipping line, has suspended all new bookings to and from Russia's Novorossiysk port after a drone struck one of its vessels, marking an escalation in the conflict's disruption of commercial shipping in the Black Sea.

Drone Strike Triggers Immediate Suspension

MSC said in a notice to customers that the decision followed a recent strike on the MSC Ulsan III while it was en route to Novorossiysk, according to Bloomberg News. The company did not specify when the attack occurred. An employee at MSC's St. Petersburg office confirmed to Bloomberg that operations in Novorossiysk are currently idled, though the company continues to operate from other Russian ports, including St. Petersburg.bloomberg+1

MSC said it is closely monitoring the situation and advised customers to contact its Russia agency for possible logistics alternatives until conditions allow resumption of regular weekly services. Lloyd's List separately confirmed the suspension, reporting that MSC cited security concerns in the Black Sea.insurancejournal+1

Escalating Attacks Disrupt Black Sea Trade

The suspension comes amid a sharp increase in attacks on commercial ships and port infrastructure across the Black Sea since July. On August 12, a major Ukrainian drone attack on Novorossiysk hit warships at a naval base and forced two grain terminals to halt operations, according to Reuters. Earlier that month, a Russian cruise missile struck the grain carrier Golden Leo, killing ten crew members.reuters+1

Around August 21, a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel was struck by a drone while transiting near Novorossiysk, killing one crew member and injuring eight others. The vessel later arrived at a Turkish port for repairs.cwdynamics

Like other international container lines, MSC has limited its operations in Russia since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with remaining shipments typically restricted to food, clothing, and medicines.insurancejournal

Broader Economic Fallout

The wave of attacks has pushed wheat prices to multi-year highs, with Chicago wheat futures rising more than 17 percent since early July, according to Reuters. Global importers including Egypt and Indonesia are bracing for tighter supplies as disruptions cut into peak-season shipments from both Russia and Ukraine. S&P Global reported that sellers have shifted Russian wheat offerings to Baltic ports as Black Sea routes become increasingly untenable.reuters+1

The International Food Policy Research Institute noted that wheat prices have climbed roughly 25 percent above January 2026 levels, reaching their highest point in two years.ifpri