LDZ CARGO (a subsidiary of the Latvian railway concern Latvijas dzelzceļš) offers 108 railcars for rent, including 46 fitting platforms for large-tonnage containers (model 13-1223), 41 covered railcars (subject to withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine) and 21 transporter railcars (located in Ukraine, subject to repair by the lessee).
The small-tonnage freight market remains under pressure, which, however, is quite expected: in the last 10 years, ship owners managed to prevent the rate decline in January-February only in 2021. Despite the return of all players from holidays, the market activity remains low; this applies even to shipments of Ukrainian grain.
Gondola car rental rate index, €/day*
Dynamics of average mazut prices, $/tonne
Gondola car rental rate index, €/day*
Activity remains minimal on the small-tonnage freight market, which is quite traditional for the very beginning of January. Thus, the 1H-mid January tonnage list is gradually growing in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, with only Ukrainian grains being relatively actively offered among all the cargoes.
The Sulina Canal Authority has almost halved the tariffs for 2024. In particular, the cost of one-way passage of an empty vessel through the canal is $0.4/NTR*, while the tariff for a loaded ship is $0.89/NTR.
Rental rates have held steady in the Baltic countries in December compared with November. The changes in some rental rates can be explained exclusively by currency fluctuations.
Considering the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays as well as the absence of any considerable activity growth on the markets of the Black and Mediterranean Seas, ship owners seem to have resigned themselves to the fact that they will not manage to raise freight rates even slightly till the end of the year.
Dynamics of average mazut prices, $/tonne