The river-sea coaster market continues to be affected by the delayed Russian grain harvest and expectations of a strong domestic crop in Türkiye. The situation is likely to be further exacerbated by Russia’s temporary closure of the Kerch Strait to traffic this week following unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks in the Sea of Azov. Against this backdrop, freight levels for 3,000-ton wheat cargoes on the Azov–Marmara route remained unchanged at USD 22–23/ton, while rates on the Rostov–Marmara route continued to hover at USD 24–25/ton. Freight on the Rostov–Mersin route also remained stable at around USD 45–46/ton.

Market conditions in the conventional Black Sea coaster segment remained largely unchanged. Freight levels for 5,000-ton steel cargoes from Novorossiysk to Marmara continued at USD 21–22/ton, while 5,000-ton wheat shipments remained at approximately USD 23–24/ton.

Freight levels for cargoes loading from the Ukrainian river ports and discharging in Marmara and the Eastern Mediterranean were broadly stable this week. A 5,500-ton soybean cargo from Chornomorsk to the Eastern Mediterranean was offered at around USD 27/ton. Meanwhile, a 6,000-ton wheat cargo from Reni to the Aegean was being quoted at approximately USD 25.5/ton.

In the larger vessel segments, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) resumed its upward momentum, climbing from 2,717 points to 2,944 points. The Baltic Capesize, Panamax and Supramax indices all posted gains this week, while Handysize earnings moved lower.

The Baltic Supramax Index (BSI) advanced from 1,673 points to 1,706 points. Average daily time charter equivalent (TCE) earnings also improved, rising from USD 21,153/day to USD 21,570/day.

Looking at individual Supramax routes, average daily earnings on the Black Sea–Far East route increased from USD 24,042/day to USD 25,350/day. Earnings from the U.S. Gulf to the Far East also strengthened, climbing from USD 32,407/day to USD 33,636/day. Far East averages posted only a marginal improvement, edging up from USD 18,222/day to USD 18,236/day.

The Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI), however, extended its decline, falling from 942 points to 915 points. Average daily time charter equivalent earnings also eased from USD 16,960/day to USD 16,466/day.

For Handysize vessels, earnings on the Black Sea–Mediterranean and Black Sea–Continent routes increased from USD 9,500/day to USD 10,500/day. Earnings on the Black Sea–Far East route also strengthened, rising from USD 15,000/day to USD 16,000/day.

On the South America–Continent route, average daily earnings retreated from last week’s USD 25,172/day to USD 24,333/day. Far East averages also softened, declining from USD 17,401/day to USD 16,835/day.

Turning to the sale and purchase market:

In the Ultramax segment, the 64,000 DWT Japanese-built “WF Artemis” (2020) was reportedly sold for USD 36.5 million, while the Japanese-built “Livita” (2017) changed hands for USD 30.5 million. The Japanese-built “Haato” (2011) was also reportedly sold for USD 23.5 million.

In the Supramax sector, the 55,000 DWT Japanese-built “Lagonda” (2011) changed hands for USD 18.2 million, while the similarly sized Japanese-built “Bermondi” (2009) was sold for USD 15.3 million. The Chinese-built “Omega S” (2011) was reportedly sold for USD 14.3 million.

In the Handysize market, the modern Bestway 40.4-design “JNS Phoenix,” a 2025 Chinese-built vessel, was reportedly sold for USD 34 million. The 37,000 DWT Korean-built “Maple Marina” (2012) changed hands for USD 14.3 million. The Japanese-built “African Piper” (2015), a Namura High Bulk 34-design vessel fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system (scrubber), was sold for USD 20 million. Finally, the Chinese-built “Avra 1” (2010) reportedly changed hands for USD 7.7 million.

In the coaster segment, the 8,500 DWT Chinese-built “Crown Gold” (2008) was, in our estimation, sold for approximately USD 3 million this week.

We wish you a pleasant week ahead.