In week 18, the Azov–Black Sea region recorded a decline in freight rates for the fourth consecutive week. Contracts for the shipment of 3,000 tonnes of wheat from Azov to the ports of the Sea of Marmara are being concluded at around USD 34 per tonne. Demand for old-crop grain continues to decline, which is typical for this time of year, and trading activity has therefore decreased noticeably. It is worth noting that, at the end of last week, a trend toward an increase in cargo flows from the Middle Volga ports emerged. In the current situation, export duties on wheat, barley, and corn have remained at zero for the second consecutive week starting from April 29.
In the Baltic region, the downward trend in freight rates also persists. Rates decreased by EUR 1–3 per tonne depending on the route.