“Handy sizes” have practically disappeared from the market, costers continue to rise in price — ASAP Agri

Shipowners almost do not consider flights from the ports of Great Odesa, while the prices of boats from the Danube continue to rise sharply.

The general picture on the Ukrainian freight market last week almost did not change. This was reported by ASAP Agri.

The market of “handy sizes” practically does not work. Very few shipowners are ready to consider flights from the ports of Great Odesa. On the other hand, the bids for bonfires from the Danube continue to rise sharply.

Egypt remains the most popular destination in the bonfire segment. Rates on this route are rising about twice as fast as on others — as of July 31, freight reached about $67/MT.

At the same time, the first signs are appearing that the rapid growth of Danube rates may begin to gradually slow down. Dealing activity has picked up recently, with charterers increasingly testing lower price ideas in an attempt to contain further growth.

As USM wrote the day before, the Danube ports are increasing the export of grain, but their capacities are not enough to compensate for the reduction of transshipment through the ports of Great Odesa.