Freight Rates for Handysize and Panamax Vessels for Grain from Ukraine Decreased in November

The Ukrainian freight market at the beginning of November is showing mixed trends. This was reported by Pavlo Lysenko, an analyst at ASAP Agri and a freight broker at Atria Brokers.

This is reported by AgroReview

Current Situation in the Panamax and Handysize Markets

Freight rates for Panamax vessels used for transporting grain from Ukraine decreased by 1 dollar per ton in November. At the same time, rates for Handysize vessels remain stable. Shipowners, despite the limited availability of tonnage in the region, confidently maintain their positions, which helps to curb the decline in freight rates in this segment.

Changes in the Handysize Segment and Rate Levels

In the Handysize segment, the recent surge in activity is gradually fading, attributed to an increase in tonnage supply. This factor has led to a decrease in freight rates by approximately 1 dollar per ton for short routes, particularly for shipments to the Eastern Mediterranean. In other directions, rates remain at previous levels.

According to the freight department of Atria Brokers, the freight cost for Panamax vessels transporting corn from deep-water ports in Ukraine to Southern China currently stands at 45–46 dollars per ton, which is 1 dollar less than before.

In the Handysize segment, the freight price for transporting 30,000 tons of corn to the eastern coast of Italy remains at 24–25 dollars per ton.

“In the Handysize segment, the freight for transporting 6,000 tons of corn from Ukrainian Danube ports to the Eastern coast of Italy is also stable at 36–38 $/ton.”

Thus, the freight market is gradually adapting to new conditions, and rates remain competitive on key export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products.