Category: Freight

Oil & fats imports jump 49.3%: Vegetable oil and fat imports reached $417.3 million in Jan–Nov 2025, highlighting rapidly growing demand. Oilseed inflows up 34%: Oilseed imports climbed to $83 million, while exports grew 10% to $23 million. Grain trade expansion: Grain imports rose 10% to $919.5 million, with exports surging 42% to $501.3 million.…

Bearish: Ukraine’s agricultural export revenues declined by €2.2 billion as of December 1, 2025, with 95% of the loss linked to reduced access to the EU market. Bearish: Unpredictable EU trade policy for Ukrainian agricultural imports is undermining pricing visibility and forward freight planning. Neutral/Structural: Ukraine must implement 20 EU production standards by end-2028, creating both…

Rice policy shift: Russia ends its paddy rice export ban and introduces a quota system, signaling confidence in domestic supply and renewed export ambitions. Grain exports stabilize: 2025 grain exports projected at 53–55 million tons, aligning with the five-year average but below the 2023–2024 record, capping upside for freight demand. Logistics expansion: FESCO’s management of…

Kazakhstan and Slovenia’s Luka Koper port are negotiating integration of the Middle Corridor to create new grain export routes to Central Europe. Luka Koper processes around 23 million tonnes annually and is a key entry point for landlocked EU countries, including 33% of Austrian and 45% of Hungarian imports. A successful partnership would diversify transport…

Export boost: Dynasty Agro will ship 3,000 tons of Kazakh flaxseed oil to Japan, roughly tripling previous annual volumes of several hundred tons. Market diversification: Registration with China’s customs under the 2025 Export Acceleration Program opens a second major Asian outlet for Kazakhstan’s processed oilseed products. Value-added trend: Focus on processed flaxseed oil rather than…

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:…