In the Sea of Azov, freight rates have stabilized or even lost a dollar or two since the last week’s report. Everyone is working on strategy for New Year holidays. According to Rufco shibrokers, some charterers / shippers are willing to bring additional cargoes in December in order to catch January lull. Others are waiting for January holidays in an attempt to get spot tonnage and lower sea freights with better shipment budgets.
Owners, on the other hand, also want to be secured for holidays. Their main interest now is long-run voyages to East Med, Central or even West Med and the Continent. Such interest could potentially cut freight during forthcoming weeks for longhaul voyages, and might also lead to some rise on short destinations like Black sea / Marmara closer to end of December, Rufco forecast.
A number of owners are alternatively seeking COAs for December-January in an attempt to close their tonnage in January, but this actually has no practical sense bearing in mind the usual sshex terms for ports of loading in the Sea Azov.
According to Rufco, freight rates to the Sea of Marmara from Rostov make $31-33 per ton.
Freight rates from Rostov to SE Black Sea ports are $29-31 per ton.
In the Caspian Sea, free tonnage was observed in the market during past week. Similar to the Sea of Azov, freight rates here have lost a dollar, but grain trade still remains quite active.
The current freight rates from Astrakhan to Iran remain at $47-49 per ton.
Please note that the rates cited in this article are average market rates. We ask our readers to pay attention that this information is not a commercial offer and cannot be an example for comparison in commercial disputes and arbitration proceedings.