ISTFIX Black Sea & Mediterranean Freight Index Report: 2014 Week 12

by Istanbul Freight Index, ISTFIX
Thursday March 27, 2014

Activity in Black Sea and Adriatic has been getting a steady boost during the past weeks, while West Mediterranean attracted too much attention causing tonnage pile up driving rates slightly under last done levels this week.

As weather improved and ice campaigns were lifted, river tonnages supply in Black Sea stabilised but naturally caused a slip at river type rates.

Typical 3.000 tonne wheat parcels from Azov to Samsun this week saw around 30 USD a tonne plus or minus a dollar/tonne based on terms and exact load-port. On longer range, Azov-Rostov to Mersin or Lebanon shipments quoted very high 40's or low 50's respectively.

Even the mostly stagnant Marmara-Libya cement shipment improved mildly this week, as a 5.000 tonne parcel was shipped from Akcansa to Tripoli for 22 USD a tonne, up about 1 USD a tonne compared to previous voyage.

In the Central Mediterranean, among the good fixtures was 2.500 tonnes of high stowage agricultural products shipped from Annaba to Western Coast of Greece at around 23 USD a tonne, yielding a good return to owners.

A 4.500 tonne cement cargo parcel from Spanish island of Alcudia to Djen-Djen fetched 14 EUR per tonne with fast loading and normal discharge terms. On another Algeria related shipment, 3.000 tonnes for WRIC cargo was fixed for 36 USD a tonne from Monfalcone to Bejaia however at much slower discharge rates.

Just like the Western Mediterranean, Baltic, Continent and North Sea coaster freight rates have been stabilised according to Berlin based BMTI. But this has little to do with cargo flows losing momentum and instead is about tonnage avails catching up.


3.000 tonne general cargoes from Baltic to Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Ghent (ARAG) now get about 23-25 EUR/tonne, which is reportedly 1-2 EUR per tonne lower than last done levels.

Returns from this destination also declined by 1 EUR per tonne. Fertilizers from Baltic to U.K. East Coast are offering mid-high 20 EUR per tonne levels down from 28 EUR/tonne last week.

About ISTFIX

ISTFIX is an independent research company which since 2008 concentrates on 2.000 to 10.000 dwt bulk carrier / general cargo vessels trading across Black Sea - Mediterranean waters.

Reports are compiled from information and fixture data gathered from owners, brokers and operators in the region and are presented in good faith to provide an unbiased benchmark for this coastal trade market. For more information and to sign up for the weekly ISTFIX email please visit ISTFIX.com.

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