Shelling of ports of Great Odesa negatively affects freight rates, analysts say
19.01.2026 - 10:11
Against the backdrop of increasing attacks on port infrastructure and new shelling of vessels, more and more shipowners are suspending operations in Ukrainian deep-sea ports, waiting for the situation to de-escalate.
Latifundist writes about this with reference to ASAP Agri analysts.
“At the beginning of the week, a significant number of firm offers were still available on the market in the handy-size segment for the transportation of Ukrainian grain. However, by the middle of the week, market sentiment had changed: shipowners became more cautious and increasingly refrained from further negotiations. The negotiated freight rates remained at the levels of last week, but their further direction remains uncertain,” ASAP Agri analysts note.
On the other hand, as experts emphasize, the market is receiving an offer of tonnage for grain transportation from Ukrainian Danube ports. This allows keeping freight rates in this segment relatively stable.
Read also: A year in the ports of Great Odesa: what challenges did the industry overcome in 2025
So, according to the freight department of Atria Brokers, the freight rate for a shipment of corn of 30 thousand tons from Ukrainian deep-water ports to the ports of the east coast of Italy remains at $ 24 / ton.
In the segment of costers, the freight to the east coast of Italy is $ 36-38 / ton.
Earlier, analysts noted that the ports of the Odesa region are forced to slow down transshipment when Ukraine exports the maximum amount of grain.
