End of March 2015 show lowest freight levels since crysis 2008. Sea-river market bring only losses to shipowners and with freights around USD 25,- bss Rostov/Mersin 3000-tonners feel very uncomfortable while 5000 tonners can still compete down to their running costs. Sea coaster market looks even preferrable for younger ladies, but competition between newly bulit sea-river and regular Black Sea coasters shall kill market totally. Now we see freight below usd 10,- from Novorossiysk/Marmara coaster size 8000-10000 tonnes. It worth to notice that navigation 2015 is complicated by low water levels max 3,0 m at Kochetovskiy lock and will push newly built 5-6-7000 tonners out of transit business and will drop sea-river market even more with redundant tonnage supply. Transshipment at Kavkaz roads would be much more cheaper than in previous season. We expect freight below usd 8,- basis Azov/Kavkaz.
Till new crop in end July 2015 the situation could bbe only improved by extending of cargo range at Azov ports. Thanks to rouble devaluation first time after 2009 we see steels coming to Taganrog from MMK and expect to see Severstal commodities at Rostov in nearest time.
