A total of 107 million tonnes of goods of various product groups were transported in the Ukrzaliznytsia rail network during the period started January 1 and ended September 30, 2023, down 9% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Almost 1.07 million tonnes of grain were exported from Ukraine by railways during the period started September 1 and ended September 30 (up 196,000 t compared with August). Meanwhile, the grain transportation volume reached almost 180,200 t in October 1-4.
Romanian operator Global Rail Solutions SRL, which provides grain transportation services by rail in Eastern and Central Europe, has received 78 Tagnpps 95 cubic meter grain hoppers from leasing company GATX Rail Europe (American corporation GATX).
Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ministerul Agriculturii şi Dezvoltǎrii Rurale, MADR) has published a draft mechanism for importing agricultural products from Moldova and Ukraine.
Greece is proposing to use its ports in the Aegean Sea as a corridor for Ukrainian grain exports. In particular, this plan envisages transportation of products by rail through Romania and Bulgaria to ports in Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis.
According to data of the port of Klaipeda, the total transshipment of all groups of goods dropped by 11% year-on-year to 21.26 million tonnes in January – August 2023 compared with the same period of 2022.
The freight rate uptrend continues on the small-tonnage markets of Black and Baltic Seas despite the absence of any clear factors. Many players refer the growth in the Black Sea to longer queues in Sulina and Bystroe given the closure of both channels since September 25 due to weather
Gondola car price index, €/unit*
A mixed price trend has been reported on the Ukrainian grain export market this week. Meanwhile, quotes have been going down in most cases. Ukrainian wheat is actually offered for shipments from the Black Sea ports, but traders say it is quite difficult to compete with grain of other origins now.
Quotes for EU grains have dropped in the last week of September, attracting the attention of importers. According to market participants, Egypt’s GASC has purchased 170,000 t of wheat originating from Romania (120,000 t) and Bulgaria (50,000 t) at $271.8/t C&F.