+380 67 625 91 65The maritime transportation market in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea is facing serious difficulties. Activity on the Black Sea has reached minimum levels due to low demand and a limited number of cargo offers. Particularly noticeable is the decrease in grain shipments from Ukrainian and EU ports. Shipowners are forced to agree to minimum rates to avoid downtime during the holiday period. Short routes, such as corn and wheat shipments to Turkey, are negotiated at the lowest rates, while deals for long-haul routes to Europe and North Africa remain rare. Metal and fertilizer shipments are also minimal, adding pressure to the market. No significant demand growth is expected in the coming weeks.
In the Mediterranean Sea, the situation remains difficult for shipowners. High competition and many available vessels make the market favorable for Charterers. Tariffs for transportation of fertilizers, construction materials and metals are at a minimum. Shipowners are making significant concessions to maintain utilization, especially on routes with limited cargo. Weak importer activity in North Africa is further reducing transaction volumes. Prospects for improvement remain uncertain even with the start of the new year.
The Sea of Azov is also under pressure due to unfavorable weather conditions and low cargo activity. Delays in the Kerch Strait have led to mass congestion of vessels waiting for passage. This increases downtime and reduces the efficiency of routes. Despite limited supply of vessels, rates remain low due to weak demand for grain and coal transportation. Exports from Russian ports are slow, and shipowners accept terms covering only basic operating costs to avoid downtime.
