Category: Freight

Bearish: Ukrainian agricultural road exports fell 27% in early March versus the same February period, pointing to weaker overland trade flows. Neutral: Daily shipment volumes remained stable within a narrow range, indicating operational consistency rather than acute logistical disruption. Structural: Poland remains the key export corridor, reinforcing its strategic role in channeling Ukrainian agricultural products…

Steady export flow: Ukrainian seaports received 1.55 million tons of agricultural products by rail in March 1–17, underscoring robust logistical capacity via Black Sea corridors. Grain-dominated mix: Grain accounted for about 92% (1.43 million tons) of rail volumes, signaling strong competition and potential pressure on bulk freight rates. Limited processed products: Processed commodities such as…

Export Slowdown: Ukrainian grain and legume exports are down 23% year-on-year to 24.818 million tons as of March 23, 2025/26 MY. Major Grains Hit: Wheat exports are down 26% and corn exports down 19% versus the same period in 2024/25. Broad-Based Declines: Barley, rye, and flour exports have all fallen compared with last marketing year.…

Rail exports rise: Ukraine moved 314,000 tons of agricultural products by rail to western crossings in March 1–17, with grain at 45% of volumes. Throughput improves: Daily grain shipments increased to 177 wagons, up 7.9% versus late February, signaling better short‑term capacity. Backlogs build: Total wagon backlog surged to 5,800 units, driven mainly by congestion…

Structural Clean-Up: Ukraine has effectively eliminated illegal “black grain export” schemes through tighter tax controls, export security measures, and anti-offshore rules. Fiscal Boost: Budget revenues from the agricultural sector rose by UAH 14.8 billion (+21.8%) in 2025 vs 2024 and by UAH 30.4 billion (+57.9%) vs 2023. Fairer Competition: Legislative reforms are levelling the playing…

Trade Focus: Kazakhstan and Mongolia agreed to expand agricultural trade, prioritizing Kazakh exports of barley, flour, oil and fat products, rice, and confectionery. Infrastructure: Both countries will establish reciprocal trade offices in Ulaanbaatar and Almaty to support direct B2B engagement and promote national producers. Market Impact: The deal is neutral to marginally bullish for Black…

Kazakh companies signed $62.6 million in export contracts with Mongolia, focused largely on non-commodity finished goods. Bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Mongolia is expected to triple by the end of 2025, driven by food and industrial products. Kazakhstan is strengthening its role as a key transit hub for Mongolian exports to EAEU, Caucasus, Turkey,…

Infrastructure Upgrade: Ukraine and Spain will deploy automatic rail gauge adaptation to eliminate border stops for freight trains entering the EU. Cost & Time Savings: The €5.48 million project aims to cut costs and delays from cargo reloading and bogie changes caused by the 85mm gauge gap. Export Competitiveness: Technology is expected to enhance the…

Rail grain exports up 11% MoM: Ukrzaliznytsia moved 37,400 tons of grain in the first 10 days of March, indicating a short-term recovery in rail-based export flows. Year-on-year volumes still weak: Grain exports remain 34% below early March 2024 levels, underscoring persistent structural and logistical constraints. Border crossings dominate logistics: Around 77–78% of grain and…

Bearish logistics: Temporary limits on registering privately-owned freight cars in Kazakhstan reduce available rail capacity on a key Black Sea–Central Asia corridor. Infrastructure strain: Freight car numbers have exceeded the technological limits of Kazakhstan’s rail network, prompting safety and capacity control measures. Market protection: Large rolling stock owners pushed for these restrictions to protect domestic…