Region: Russian River, Azov / Black Sea, Caspian
Trade: Coaster shipments
The Azov region is experiencing a period of uncertainty. Due to the strengthened ruble and current freight rates level Traders have suspended sales and new contract conclusions. As reported by some Exporters, for normal cargo turnover to recover, either the rates must go approximately 5$ down, or the dollar must stabilize at a level higher than 59 rubles.
Since Ship Owners have been forcing Charterers to focus on voyages to the Turkish Black Sea coast, local warehouses at the Port of Samsun with the total storage capacity of 300 000 tonnes cannot receive any more goods, and the market participants has been faced with a problem of slow discharge at this particular port. In order to avoid further demurrages, cargo receivers are relocating their port of delivery to Marmara.
Some Traders are showing confidence that freight rates will decrease soon, expecting a substantial number of vessels to open simultaneously after the long idle time in Turkish ports.
Traders in the Azov region are trying to evade CIF sales, preferring to ship their goods on a FOB basis, with a view to reduce risks associated with searching for proper vessels.
The shortage of fleet remains critical in the most remote river ports on the Volga. Since the opening of navigation, voyages there have been relatively rare, which led to an accumulation of significant cargo volumes at river silos. Charterers keep increasing their ideas for freight rates, but this has little impact on the actual amount of shipments.
According to some Exporters, tariffs for railway delivery to sea ports have reached parity with the cost of analogical transportation by water, which reduces the possibility of further rates increase for voyages from river ports.