Freight from the Danube to Egypt reached $120 per ton
2.11.2026 - 12:56
The gap between shipowners and charterers’ expectations persists, with only one fixation.
Long queues in Sulin and military risks in the Black Sea further limit the availability of vessels for such voyages. ASAP Agri reports.
The number of vessels ready to operate on this route remains extremely limited, and shipowners are sticking to their terms.
As a result, a significant gap remains between the freight ideas of owners and charterers, which limits the conclusion of deals. There are very few fixations, so it is difficult to determine current market levels. The rates in those deals that are still concluded vary significantly depending on the conditions of a particular voyage — primarily on the conditions of passage through the canal and the position of the vessel.
The barge segment is also becoming more expensive. There, rates are rising against the backdrop of high demand and a shortage of tonnage, which is supported by draft restrictions on the Danube.
As of October 30, the freight rate for “costers” from the Danube to Egypt reached about $120 per ton — a new high. A week ago, the rate was about $108–110, in September — $105, and on July 11, when the Black Sea ports were still operating, — only $30. That is, in four months, the transportation cost has quadrupled.
The route through deep-water ports has effectively disappeared from the market. Rates for “handy sizes” from Black Sea ports have not been fixed since July.
As USM wrote the day before, Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to work on a “grain corridor” in the Black Sea.
