+380 67 625 91 65In the Black Sea, the small tonnage market has begun to show signs of strengthening after a prolonged period of stability. The reduction in the number of available vessels and some revival on the part of shippers, especially for grain and metal products, allowed shipowners to gradually strengthen their positions. Despite the limited growth in demand, deals are being concluded more actively than before, which creates a feeling of gradual recovery from stagnation. Shippers are careful in negotiations, but they have to take into account the reduction of the fleet, which increases the stability of the rates. In the grain segment, activity is growing due to new shipments of wheat and corn, while metal and coal provide an additional, albeit insignificant, flow. The forecast indicates that with the arrival of autumn and the start of more active corn exports, the situation will gradually improve, supporting the positions of shipowners.
In the Mediterranean, the market remains sluggish amid an oversupplied fleet and weak shippers’ interest. Even the reduction in the number of vessels in the eastern part of the basin has not had a noticeable impact on the situation, and rates remain close to previous levels. Shippers continue to dictate terms, and many deals are concluded on terms that are less favorable to shipowners. The seasonal decline in business activity is also exacerbating the situation, limiting the number of new requests. Attempts by shipowners to maintain higher ideas are not yet supported, and additional shipments of fertilizers and metal do not have sufficient effect. In the near term, the market in the region is likely to continue to stagnate, with minor changes depending on individual cargo flows.
Activity in the Sea of Azov has noticeably revived, especially against the background of increased grain exports from the ports of Rostov and Azov. The restrained increase in rates is due to the limited number of available vessels and increased demand from shippers for short routes. Despite attempts by grain buyers to consolidate lower levels, shipowners are holding their positions, which indicates a gradual strengthening of the market. An additional role is played by coal exports, which maintains the balance of cargo flow and keeps rates from falling. Long routes are less popular, but individual transactions are also recorded on them, reflecting the willingness of shipowners to work in different directions. The forecast for the coming weeks assumes that rates will continue to rise modestly with a focus on grain exports, which will remain the main driver in the region.