According to Pavel Lysenko, analyst with ASAP Agri and freight broker with Atria Brokers, as of mid-September, the large-tonnage market in the Black Sea continues to be supported by fresh grain orders coming to the market. This week Panamax rates have been adjusted up by 1–2 USD/MT, while those for Handysize largely remain at last week’s marks. Handysize owners continue to voice quite high freight ideas for stems with end-September – early-October loadings; however, the bid/offer gap has considerably widened, and fixture activity has slowed as charterers cannot afford significantly increased owners’ requirements. As for Coasters, a few more fresh cargoes have appeared on the market which, together with bullish owners’ sentiment, has allowed owners to achieve slightly better freight rates and move the market a little higher.

Thus, according to Atria Brokers’ freight department, Panamax freight for corn from Ukrainian deep-water ports to South China is assessed at 47–48 USD/MT, up 2 USD/MT week-on-week. 

In the Handysize sector, freight for a 30,000t corn shipment to East Coast Italy remains at 23–24 USD/MT.

In the Coaster segment, freight for a 6,000t corn shipment from Ukrainian Danube ports to East Coast Italian ports rose by 1 USD/MT to 33–34 USD/MT.


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