Freight from Ukraine to Egypt rose in price sharply against the backdrop of a tonnage shortage on the Danube

Limited tonnage supply allows shipowners to maintain high rates for the transportation of Ukrainian grain.

Freight rates for the transportation of Ukrainian corn to Egypt remain under pressure due to the shortage of available tonnage on the Danube. This is reported by ASAP Agri.

At the same time, rates for transportation by “coasters” from Danube ports, after a sharp increase in recent weeks, have begun to stabilize.

According to analysts, rates for transportation by “coasters” from Ukrainian Danube ports to Egypt are currently maintained at previously achieved levels. As of August 14, they reached about $68–69 per ton, while at the beginning of August 2025 they were about $60–65 per ton.

At the same time, freight for the transportation of corn from the ports of Great Odesa to Egypt on “handy sizes” is at about $22–23 per ton.

Separately, rates for barge transportation continue to grow. The key reason is the critically low water level on the Danube, which significantly reduces the available tonnage and, accordingly, the choice for charterers.

Under such conditions, shipowners maintain a strong negotiating position and insist on high freight rates.

Previously, USM wrote that due to the increase in the number of vessels and bad weather, the waiting time at the entrance to the Sulina Canal has increased to approximately 2–3 days.