During the week 25, the situation in the coasters market in the Azov and Black Sea region remained difficult. Market insiders expect that from July 1, restrictions on the export of main types of Russian grain crops will be lifted. Amid these expectations, a number of cargo offers for the first half of July appeared on the market, Glogos Project reports. Traders are seeking options for shipping the first parcels of the new crop barley, which is being harvested in full swing in the Crimea, Krasnodar and Stavropol regions.
Charterers with contracts already signed are trying to fix vessels as early as possible, taking advantage of the low market. Owners, in their turn, use the tactics of rates overshooting on July, trying to return the market to the level of voyage profitability as quickly as possible. The balance has not yet been found, and so far, there are not many deals for July. For the time being, the market remains on the side of charterers.
The problem of issuing documents for a number of cereals that are nominally available for shipment since the beginning of July is widely discussed. Market insiders think that the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance officers have an unspoken order not to issue quarantine and, as a result, phytosanitary certificates before obtaining clarification from the Ministry of Agriculture. This may slow down rate growth in early July. Exporters who have faced a similar problem with the ban on sunflower exports in March will not enter into new contracts until the situation is clarified officially.
Market insiders also agree that the Ministry of Agriculture is likely to extend the ban on sunflower seeds export until the end of August to stimulate the domestic processing industry. Despite the negative reaction of the market to these intentions, the prices for both sunflower oil and sunflower seeds have grown significantly. If the restrictions are lifted, this crop may be in a strong demand in foreign markets. For the time being, owners may only hope for the export quota for the main types of grain, such as barley and wheat, to be lifted.
According to Glogos Project, on week 21, freight rates for 3,000-5,000 dwt vessels for wheat parcels to the Sea of Marmara made $12 pmt from Rostov and Azov, $11 pmt from Yeisk and Taganrog, and $10 from Temryuk.
Freight rates for coal to the Sea of Marmara made $11 pmt from Rostov and Azov, $10 pmt from Yeisk and Taganrog, and $9 from Temryuk.
The Caspian freight market is still stagnating, following the pattern of the Sea of Azov market. Everyone is waiting for the beginning of July, when the new crop of barley will appear in the market; it is already actively being traded. So far, the market insiders agree on the forecast that freight rates in the Caspian region will grow faster than the rates from Azov sea ports, which is explained by the high demand for barley from Iran.
Freight rates for 3,000 dwt vessels for barley to Iran made $18 pmt from Astrakhan, $12 from Aktau and $14 from Makhachkala.
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.