Freight rates from Danube ports have increased

Further growth in freight rates continues to restrain the availability of free tonnage in the ports of the Danube cluster.

Freight rates from Ukrainian ports on the Danube to Italy increased by $2. This was facilitated by the increase in the rate of export of agricultural products, Spike Brokers reports.

However, the available export volumes are still not enough for the initiative to move to the side of the shipowners. Further growth in freight rates is restrained by the availability of free tonnage in the ports.

At the same time, barge rates remain at minimal levels. The market is waiting for an increase in the flow of cargo, which has not happened so far.

Market rates for transportation from river ports are now:

• Izmail — Serbia (5-7 thousand tons) — 30-31 euros;

• Izmail — Romania (1-3 thousand tons) — 10 euros;

• Izmaill — Sh. the coast of Italy (5-7 thousand tons) — 27-29 dollars;

• Reni — Turkey (5-7 thousand tons) — 17-18 dollars.

Market rates for transportation from the deep sea port of Chornomorsk to the east coast of Italy and Spain are $21-22 and $21-23, respectively.

As USM wrote, earlier the UDS said that the new harvest did not restore exports across the Danube. Statistics of the Danube Commission indicates a steady decline in cargo handling by Danube ports.