11/03/2020

The 11th week of 2020 began with a sharp drop in the ruble exchange rate, which could positively affect the level of grain export from Russia and lead to its insignificant growth.

The freight rates on this week in the Azov sea region are still in the same level. The shipment of 3000 mts of wheat from Azov to Marmara sea ports will cost USD 17 PMT. However, the increasing of grain export level will lead to greater demand for the fleet and, as a result, to freight rates increase. Therefore, a lot of shipowners prefer to wait and to see how the market will change to not miss its improvement and to fix vessels on better rates.

In the Caspian region there is an improvement on the freight market. Freight rates for shipment of 3000 mts of corn from Astrakhan to Northern Iranian ports has reached the level of USD 30 PMT. Concerns about the complication of work in ports due to the coronavirus have not been confirmed, and shipments continue as before.

Active shipments from the port of Makhachkala continue and also more cargoes began to appear from Astrakhan port.

A lot of shipowners with rus flag in both regions are waiting for river navigation beginning, which due to warm weather will have to start much earlier this year, hoping for more profitable conditions for shipments from river ports.