Handysize freight rates have edged up this week amid an increased availability of grain cargo orders and owners' strong efforts to shift the market trend, informed Pavlo Lysenko, analyst with ASAP Agri, freight broker with Atria Brokers. Thus, freight for Handysize vessels carrying corn from POC ports to ECI have increased by 2 USD/MT to 23-24 USD/MT.

P. Lysenko also pointed that Coaster owners have managed to raise freight rates from Ukraine by 1 USD/MT on all routes this week, driven by a continued influx of fresh cargo orders. Freight for coasters carrying corn from Ukrainian Danube ports to East Coast Italy climbed to 28-30 USD/MT.

This week, Panamax freight rates are holding steady. Owners are trying to push for higher levels, but there are not enough firm cargoes from Ukrainian deep-water ports to provide sufficient leverage. According to P. Lysenko, freights for Panamax vessels carrying corn or wheat from POC ports to South China stay unchanged at 48-50 USD/MT.

The barge market remains unattractive for owners, with a limited choice of cargo from Ukrainian Danube ports. The freight for corn transportation from Reni or Izmail to Constanta is within 9-10 EUR/MT.

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