Ocean freight rates are an important component of trade costs for grains and oilseeds. Network analysis can show how closely ports are connected based on the cost to move grains and oilseeds between them. The importance of ports is calculated using the weighted centrality measure, which shows the importance of a port in the network by considering both the number of connections and the strength of those connections (a relatively lower freight rate between two ports is associated with a stronger connection).

Extreme weather events can disrupt agricultural markets, but agricultural trade can help address subsequent food security concerns. The OECD uses the Aglink-Cosimo partial equilibrium model to shed light on the complex relationships between trade and food security in an environment where extreme weather events create uncertainty. The analysis suggests that trade integration makes countries less vulnerable to negative yield shocks by mitigating the risk of extreme food prices and stabilising food availability. Although no model can capture the complex process and consequences of opening this sector to trade, it is clear that trade integration needs to be part of a wider coherent policy package that seeks to improve food security.