In the 44th week in the freight market of the Azov sea continued gradual decline in interest rates. The range of goods lagged behind the rate of turnover of the fleet, resulting in increased spot tonnage which pulled the market down. Ship owners are taking the trend in the decline, but choose long-haul flights, because of what rate they are falling faster than the short arm. Together with the demand for long-haul flights is a growing demand for a return cargo.
The main factor determining the low rates of freight continues to be weak for this time of year, the activity of grain traders. High procurement price in the domestic market makes Russian grain is too expensive compared with offerings of competitors from Ukraine and killing its export prospects. Market participants expect that soon farmers will begin to reduce the price of grain, since its a lot accumulated in warehouses and grain season has not been.
On the basis of quotations of the last large tenders (Egypt, Turkey, Algeria) among the winners may be the grain of Russian origin. As practice shows, such parties often are shipped with a water (port of Novorossiysk). Many traders believe that high procurement price of grain in Novorossiysk inhibits export from the sea of Azov – senders cheaper to give grain on the terms of CPT the major players than to ship on FOB with shallow water.
Administration of the Azov-don basin informed the market participants about the closure of gateway No. 1 to 15 from 27 November 2019. There is the possibility that commercial sluicing, the terms of which will need to be arranged in advance. Under favorable meteorological conditions with a possible extension of the work of the gateway until 1 December.
Freight market the fleet with Russian flag near the end of the navigation goes into a separate segment. The decline rates of the ports of the Azov sea, the demand from river elevators remained high and the fleet with the Russian flag continues to be in short supply. Freight rates are moving into the category of non-market.
In the Caspian region rates have been steadily increasing for the past month. Shipowners use time and dictate the terms for spot contracts and long winter. According to some of them 2-3 risky but high-paying voyage on the Caspian sea in terms of profitability comparable to the 2-3 month work in the sea of Azov in winter. This factor is the most significant when deciding on wintering in the Caspian sea.