On the 35th week in the Azov region the growth of freight rates continues. The increase in the number of cargo offers has led to a significant decrease in spot positions, charterers are already looking for fleet for September dates.
Shipowners, observing an increase in demand for tonnage, are already asking for the level of USD 21-22 for the 3000 mts shipment from Azov to the Marmara Sea ports. Most shipowners, expecting further growth, prefer not to fix their vessels on long-term dates, but to close their positions on the spot.
In Caspian region there is also seen an increase in cargo flow, however there are still not as much cargoes from Astrakhan as it was expected in August. Freight rates are kept on the level of USD 20-21 for corn shipment to North Iranian ports. Higher activity is seen in cabotage shipments, there is demand for fleet from Ulianovsk, Kazan and Samara ports to Astrakhan and Kavkaz.
A positive trend continues in the Baltic region. Shipments by Handy and Supramax vessels are quite active. The improved situation on this market segment has pushed many shipowners to relocate their fleet to the Baltic region. In this way a lot of open positions are expected in early September.
On the Baltic short sea market there is also seen an improvement and many shipowners have also decided to move their fleet from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea and Continent in the hope of a good cargo flow in the region.
On the deep sea market in Black Sea there are problems with finding vessels for long-distance destinations. Most shipowners prefer not to go further than the Persian Gulf or the Atlantic, as in September a significant increase in cargo traffic to Turkey, Jordan, Spain and Romania is expected, and therefore the owners prefer to leave their vessels in this region. Asian countries remain the least attractive destination, as the region has long queues at ports and less cargo on the market are represented than in the Black Sea and Baltic regions.