The cost of barge transportation from Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail to Constanta (Romania) has already doubled since the beginning of July, amounting to approximately $28/t (as of July 20).
This is reported by ASAP Agri.
Experts attribute the increase to two factors:
- Critically low water levels in the Danube River are limiting cargo capacity and delaying shipments.
- The escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian seaports is forcing an increasing volume of cargo to be redirected to the Danube.
“The situation with barges on the Danube is more complex than it appears. Historically low and continually decreasing water levels mean that barges remain significantly underloaded. Therefore, freight rates are highly conditional and depend on available draft, actual loading volume, vessel, and cargo,” explained Taras Panasyuk, co-owner and head of chartering brokerage at Atria Brokers.
As noted by Pavel Lysenko, a freight transportation analyst at ASAP Agri, market participants confirm that the maximum available draft is around 2 meters in Chernavoda, one of the most challenging points on the route.
“Further on, towards Constanta, it may be even lower. By our approximate estimates, barges are losing 30-60% of their carrying capacity depending on their design,” the expert clarified.
Джерело: www.agroportal.ua