Category: Freight

Containerized grain shipments on Ukrzaliznytsia’s network dropped 13% y/y to 56,965 thousand TEUs in Jan–Nov 2025 as shippers pivoted back to specialized grain railcars. Low leasing rates of 100–200 UAH/day for grain railcars made traditional railcar transport more cost-effective than containers for exporters. Meal and cake container volumes rose 4% y/y to 24,474 thousand TEUs,…

Ministry of Communities and Territories Development launched a concession tender for Chornomorsk port terminals on December 20. The tender covers the First and Container Terminals, including the Universal and Grain Marine Terminals. Move supports long-term modernization of Ukraine’s Black Sea grain export infrastructure. Potential for improved logistics efficiency and lower freight costs over time. Ukraine…

New rail route: Beltamozhservis launches a container corridor linking Belarus to Iran via Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Transit time: Containerized cargo moves between Belarus and Iran in approximately 13–15 days. Logistics impact: Adds a land-based alternative to traditional Black Sea and maritime routes for reaching Iranian markets. Grain flows: Neutral to moderately bullish for Black…

Bullish: Drone strike on Ukraine’s largest vegetable oil terminal destroys thousands of tons of sunflower oil and threatens export capacity. Bearish: Limited immediate demand-side impact; broader vegoil complex still cushioned by alternative origins and existing stocks. Allseeds Terminal Strike: Incident Overview On December 20, Russian forces conducted a drone strike on Allseeds’ vegetable oil terminal…

Palm oil exports rising: Global palm oil exports are projected to increase to 26.2 million tonnes in 2025 from 23.95 million tonnes in 2024, led by stronger Indonesian shipments. Inventory-driven price pressure: Malaysian palm oil stocks surged 13% month-on-month to 2.84 million tonnes, weighing on prices and boosting palm oil’s price competitiveness. Shifting demand patterns:…

Ukrainian freight: Capacity recovery underway via additional diesel locomotives, but power infrastructure damage keeps rail-to-port flows constrained and schedules fragile. Russian grain exports: November shipments up 5% YoY to 6.3 million tons, driven by strong Turkish and Iranian wheat demand and expanded Turkish barley imports. Black Sea logistics: Rostov Region moved 1.4 million tons of…

Export surge: Global palm oil exports are projected to jump 9.4% to 26.2 million tonnes in 2025, led by a sharp increase in Indonesian shipments. Price advantage: Elevated Malaysian inventories are improving palm oil’s price competitiveness versus other vegetable oils, challenging Black Sea sunflower oil demand. Moderating output: Global production is forecast to ease to…

Neutral to slightly bullish: Rail grain exports via EU border crossings have increased by around 34 cars per day versus November, led by stronger flows through Slovakia and Hungary. Logistical resilience: Higher rail capacity is partially offsetting constrained seaborne routes, supporting export continuity but not yet restoring pre-conflict shipment levels. Mixed regional dynamics: A marginal…

Malaysia cut its unrefined palm oil export duty to 9.5% for January 2026 from 10% in December, responding to weaker global prices. The reference price for palm oil fell to 3,946.17 ringgit/tonne from 4,206.38 ringgit, reflecting about a 6% month‑on‑month decline. Impact on Black Sea sunflower oil is mostly neutral, but cheaper Malaysian palm oil…