The Bosphorus Strait in Turkey connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. It was closed over the weekend during the coup attempt in Turkey.
More than three percent of the world’s oil supplies pass through that channel. Large amounts of grain from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine also navigate the channel. Reuters says over one-quarter of the world’s grain supplies are shipped from ports on the Black Sea. 48,000 vessels move through the Strait, making it one of the busiest transit points on the planet, according to Pro Farmer. Ships are granted free passage, but Turkey does occasionally assert its rights to control the channel. Russia’s Ag Minister said they hope Saturday’s closure of the Strait won’t impact their grain exports.