According to Pavel Lysenko, analyst with ASAP Agri, freight broker with Atria Brokers, the Black Sea freight market remains challenging for owners across all DWT sectors. Grain shipments from Ukraine remain limited, however, freight rates hold largely stable as owners strongly resist further cuts.

Atria Brokers' freight department assesses current rates for Panamax shipments of corn from Ukrainian deep-water ports to South China at 32 USD/MT. 

In the Handysize segment, the amount of firm grain stems from Ukraine remains scarce, with charterers attempting to push rates lower. However, owners have so far managed to resist further reductions. Handysize rates for corn shipments from POC ports to East Coast Italy remains steady at 15-16 USD/MT. 

The coaster market remains difficult for owners. While grain shipments from the Danube continue to decline, market participants report an increased flow of fertilizers to Ukraine on the Black Sea market, which providing some support to owners. Thus, freight for 6,000t of corn from Ukrainian Danube ports to East Coast Italy remain at 26-28 USD/MT.

Spot shipments of 1,000-3,000t of corn from Izmail or Reni to Constanța by barges are negotiated within 8-9 EUR/MT.

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