freight rates

Market activity in Black Sea ports has somewhat recovered after participants returned from industry events in Greece.

Market activity has fallen due to an industry event in Greece — the number of deals concluded was too small to determine the direction of rates.

Rates for “coasters” have dropped by another $1–2/MT, while the “handysize” segment is still holding its ground.

The Strait of Hormuz is thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, but its crisis is already being felt by Black Sea freight. USM gathered the opinions of Ukrainian experts in the field of shipping and logistics to find out how events in the Middle East affect Ukraine.

Freight rates in the Handysize sector are returning to pre-Middle East crisis levels.

Freight rates have decreased against the backdrop of weak trade activity and increasing tonnage availability in the Black Sea-Mediterranean region.

Freight rates in the Black Sea are held at current levels, but limited cargo volumes and differences in expectations between parties are holding back deals.

The market remains expensive, and the shortage of suitable tonnage for voyages from Ukrainian ports continues to affect commercial negotiations.

Shipowners are raising prices, relying on rising bunker costs, while charterers are increasingly agreeing to compromise levels.

The hostilities in the Middle East have led to a sharp increase in bunker fuel prices, prompting shipowners across all segments to raise freight rates.