BERLIN, Oct 31 — Transportation by sea is the most efficient way of exporting grains out of Ukraine but land transport will be continued, the German transport ministry said today.

Ships brought grain from Ukrainian ports today, suggesting Moscow had stopped short of reimposing a blockade that might have caused world hunger, despite suspending its participation in a UN programme to safely export grain from the war zone.

"In the end, the route from Ukraine to the North Sea ports is the longest and thus the most expensive and difficult. The short routes are those that are preferred,” the German transport ministry spokesperson told a regular government news conference.

A foreign ministry spokesperson added: "There are still difficulties on the land route, even if we of course still try to use such possibilities, but most important is that transport by sea continues to remain possible and we are putting all our efforts into that.”

The transport ministry spokesperson pointed to an existing European initiative to transport grain by rail but could not speak for a French initiative on land transportation.

Earlier today, the French farming minister said France is working towards allowing Ukraine to export food supplies via land routes rather than by the Black Sea through Poland or Romania. — Reuters