On week 40, the level of freight rates in the Azov and Black Sea region remains almost unchanged. The rate for a 3,000 mt wheat parcel from Azov to Marmara is $39-40 pmt. Sea Lines shipbrokers report a slight improvement in the number of planned shipments in the market, but the weather has interfered. Bad weather in the Black Sea has led to the closure of the Kerch Strait for several days. The fleet is waiting for the situation to improve and for a possibility to pass the strait. Strong winds also worsen the situation in the ports of Azov and Rostov, where the water level in the Azov-Don Maritime Canal has dropped to 2.11 meters.
Due to the bad weather conditions in those ports, most shipowners prefer to consider cargo from Yeisk or Temryuk in order to avoid long downtime of vessels. There are practically no spot positions in the market, most of the vessels will open only by the end of October, but few owners are ready to work these dates until the exact laycan is clarified.
As for the export fee, this week the government announced its increase to $57.8 pmt for wheat and $43.1 pmt for barley. Only the fee on corn will decrease to the level of $45.2 pmt.
On week 40, freight rates for 3,000-5,000 dwt bulkers from the port of Azov declined.
According to Sea Lines, freight rates for wheat parcels from Azov made $37 to the Black Sea, $39 to Marmara, $57 to Mersin and $60 to Egypt.
Freight rates from Rostov AB (after bridge) are $1 above, from Rostov BB (before bridge) the same, from Yeisk and Taganrog $1 below, and from Temryuk $3 below those from the port of Azov.
In the Caspian region, freight levels from Astrakhan rose to $37-38 pmt for a shipment of 2,600 mt of corn to Northern Iranian ports. The price increase is primarily due to the low water level in the port of Astrakhan.
Compared to previous weeks, the number of candidates of Iranian-flagged vessels has increased in the market, who offer about $35 per ton for shipments from Astrakhan.
In addition to Astrakhan, there are more requests from Makhachkala, however, the long berth waiting time in the port makes it unattractive for shipowners.
On the whole, freight rates in the Caspian moved sideways.
On week 40, freight rates for shipping corn by 3,000 dwt bulkers to Iran made $23 from Aktau, $27 from Makhachkala, and $37 from Astrakhan.
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.