This week, the market picture has not changed significantly for shipowners operating in the Black Sea region. The volume of firm cargo orders from Ukraine remains limited, with charterers continuing to push aggressive freight rate ideas. Given the ample availability of open tonnage, owners have little choice but to accept increasingly unfavorable market conditions. This week, freight rates in the Handysize and Coaster segments have slipped by about 1-2 USD/MT on a week-on-week basis.

Thus, According to Atria Brokers' freight department, freight rates in the Panamax sector remain stable. Rates for corn or wheat shipments from POC ports to South China are assessed at 34-36 USD/MT.

In the Handysize segment, freight rates for corn shipments from POC ports to East Coast Italy have softened by 1 USD/MT to 15-16 USD/MT.

In the Coaster sector, freight rates for 6,000-ton corn shipments from Ukrainian Danube ports to East Coast Italy have dropped by 1 USD/MT, now at 26-28 USD/MT.

Freight for corn transportation by barges from Reni or Izmail to Constanta remains steady at 9 EUR/MT. 

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