Shortage of grain cargoes from Ukraine affects the Panamax market
1.02.2025 - 13:30
Freight rates for grain transportation are falling due to excess tonnage supply over demand.
Panamax owners are experiencing an acute shortage of grain cargoes from Ukraine. This was stated by ASAP Agri analyst and Atria Brokers freight broker Pavlo Lysenko.
While the flow of cargo in the handheld and coster segments remains relatively stable, shipowners are finding it difficult to increase freight rates due to the excess tonnage on the market.
In addition, rates in the coster segment fell even further this week, which, in turn, reduced TCE for shipowners of the small-tonnage fleet.
Current freight rates for Panamaxes from deep-water ports of Ukraine to southern China have decreased by $1 per ton and are now $33-35/t.
At the same time, the freight rates of “hand sizes” for the transportation of corn from the ports of Greater Odessa to the eastern coast of Italy are estimated at $ 16 / t.
In the “fire” segment, the rates for the transportation of 6 thousand tons of corn from the Danube ports of Ukraine to Italy decreased by $ 1 / t and currently amount to $ 25-27 / t.
The cost of transporting corn by barge from Reni or Izmail to Constanta is € 8-9 / t.
The day before, USM reported that the suspension of help from USAID would negatively affect the agricultural sector.
