Category: 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.…

The European Business Association (EBA) proposes shifting Ukraine’s freight wagon regulation from fixed service life limits to technical condition-based assessments. Aligning with EU and US practices could lower rail logistics costs and support more efficient use of existing wagon fleets. Potential cost reductions are particularly relevant for Black Sea grain export routes, marginally improving exporter…

UAH 6.25 billion in Ukrainian export contracts were supported by the Export Credit Agency during January–April 2026. Raiffeisen Bank-led financing accounted for UAH 4.6 billion, making it the dominant banking partner. Khmelnytskyi region dominated export support with UAH 4.6 billion, far ahead of Lviv and Chernihiv regions. Germany, Poland, and Hungary were the main destinations,…

Export Surge: Russian millet exports for 2025/26 have already reached 94,000 tons, exceeding last season’s full-year volume and the five-year average. Middle East Demand: The Middle East now leads as the primary buyer with 45,000 tons shipped, up 55% year-on-year, with Turkey’s intake more than tripling. Market Diversification: Exports to Asia and Africa are rising,…

Strategic tariffs: Uzbekistan is being urged to introduce flexible, competitive rail freight tariffs and bundled logistics services to retain agricultural transit flows. Route efficiency focus: Freight carriers increasingly prioritize speed, reliability, and predictability over pure distance when choosing Central Asian transit corridors. New southern corridor: Development of a logistics complex at Bolashak station is set…

Policy risk: Kazakhstan is considering new export duties of $30/tonne on wheat and barley and 20% (min EUR 50/tonne) on flaxseed and rapeseed. Market uncertainty: The proposal is adding volatility and hesitation among exporters and traders in an already fragile market. Neutral to bearish exports: Higher costs could erode Kazakhstan’s competitiveness in Black Sea and…