Category: Freight

Bullish freight demand: Russian grain exports rose 90% YoY in early May to 2.4 million tons, driving higher vessel utilization from Black Sea ports. Expanded trade routes: Wheat destinations grew from 16 to 20 countries, with Kenya and Tanzania emerging as new major buyers alongside Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Broader crop mix: Strong growth in barley,…

Policy Dispute: Hungary’s unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports clash with EU-Ukraine Association Agreement principles and have triggered criticism from Ukrainian agribusiness. Transit Intact: Key freight transit routes through Hungary remain open, preserving an important logistics corridor for Ukrainian exports to Western Europe. Compromise Option: Ukraine is proposing licensing mechanisms to balance import volume concerns…

Dry Port No. 5 is now operational on the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway line, handling its first train and expanding regional freight capacity. A planned 1,650-meter railway extension at Naybobad station is set to boost freight car throughput and reduce idle time. Enhanced rail infrastructure may gradually shift some Central Asian grain and oilseed flows away from…

Bullish: Rail freight between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan surged 36% y/y to 13 million tonnes in the first four months of 2026, reinforcing the Trans-Caspian corridor’s role in grain and oilseed exports. Bullish: Completed dredging at Kuryk and ongoing upgrades at Aktau port are set to expand Caspian export capacity and offer competitive alternatives to congested Black…

Regulatory shift: Hungary has reinstated a wide-ranging ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports, adding fresh constraints to regional trade flows. Logistics pressure: The ban complicates Central European land transit routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseeds, likely raising logistics costs and transit times. Freight sentiment: Market impact is assessed as neutral to slightly bearish for Ukrainian freight,…

Neutral to Slightly Bullish: Streamlined border procedures for perishable agricultural goods should reduce delays, spoilage, and logistics uncertainty for Ukrainian exporters. Operational Improvement: The eCherga automated system now assigns priority based on cargo codes, limiting manual intervention and reducing corruption risks. Scope Limitation: Immediate impact on bulk grain and oilseed flows is limited, as these…

Kazakhstan has become the 6th-largest global exporter of sunflower oil and a top-3 supplier of sunflower meal to the EU. Over 410,000 tonnes of fat and oil products were shipped from Kazakhstan to EU markets in the last three years. NAPMK members process more than 90% of Kazakhstan’s oilseed crushing capacity, consolidating export flows. Rising…

Export growth: Kazakhstan’s grain and flour exports rose 13.6% year-on-year to 11.7 million tonnes in September 2025–May 20, 2026. Demand drivers: Central Asian buyers led the expansion, with Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan all sharply increasing imports. Afghan surge: Exports to Afghanistan jumped 2.3 times to 3 million tonnes, signaling strong regional consumption and logistics…

Bearish price action: Granulated wheat bran prices at Ukrainian ports declined steadily through two ten-day periods in May. Demand shock in Turkey: Turkish buying collapsed amid Q1 oversaturation and higher domestic bran output. Export pressure: Reduced appetite in key markets is weighing on Ukrainian export prices and volumes. Strategic challenge: Exporters may need to find…

Russian ag exports to Turkey jumped 54% y/y in Q1 to $1.1 billion, driven by grains and vegetable oils. Wheat exports surged 4.3x to $400 million, while corn rose 6.5x to $88 million and barley 16x to $56 million. Secondary products like beet pulp, molasses, beef, and rice also posted strong growth, highlighting broad-based demand.…