Paris wheat soars as Russia curbs night operations at Novorossiysk port

PARIS/HAMBURG, July 22 (Reuters) - European wheat surged on Wednesday, driven by renewed attacks on Black Sea ports and the overnight closure of the major Russian grain export hub of Novorossiysk due to drone attacks, pushing the benchmark contract up 20% over two weeks.

Benchmark September milling wheat BL2U6 on Paris-based Euronext was up 4.5% by 1530 GMT to 245.25 euros a metric ton.

Chicago wheat BL2U6 gained 4% by the same time.

Russia imposed a temporary ban on vessel movements in and out of the port of Novorossiysk between midnight and 5 a.m. because of Ukrainian drone attacks, three grain industry sources said on Wednesday.

They said the port was functioning as usual outside the restricted nighttime hours, and grain shipments have not been affected.

"The closure of Novo is making people really nervous because you know when it starts but you don't know when it ends, even if they say it's temporary and only overnight," a French trader said.

Wheat prices have climbed in recent weeks after attacks on grain ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov by both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian attacks on Novorossiysk have so far focused on oil terminals rather than the large grain terminals.

"Any major disruption to wheat loadings at Novorossiysk would have a serious impact on the world market," a German trader said.

Meanwhile, Russia said on Wednesday it had struck the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Chornomorsk, hitting port infrastructure and vessels that it said were supporting the Ukrainian military.

In Europe, Germany's harvest was progressing rapidly, with traders estimating about half the crop had been gathered, though heatwave damage was expected to cut output.