Freight Market for Grain Cargoes in the Black and Baltic Seas in September 2025: Rate Decline and Stagnation of Transportation

In the 37th week of 2025, a decline in freight rates for Panamax and Handymax vessels departing from Novorossiysk was recorded in the Azov-Black Sea region. A similar trend is observed in the Baltic Sea, where rates for transporting grain cargoes remain insignificant and stagnant, despite high demand.

According to the SeaNews analytical digest for the period from September 8 to 12, 2025, the situation in the freight market is characterized by a limited volume of transportation and shows stability, but without significant growth in rates. This is due to an increase in the number of shipping requests, which is not accompanied by a significant change in tariffs, especially in key cargo regions.

The data indicates that the balance between supply and demand in the market is currently maintained; however, there is an element of revival among shipowners and shipping companies interested in long-term cooperation. Despite weak price pressure, industry participants are closely monitoring changes in the 2025 season, considering geopolitical and economic factors affecting maritime grain transportation.

Thus, the trends of September 2025 in the grain cargo freight market are marked by a moderate decline in rates, ongoing stagnation in cargo transportation, and uncertain dynamics, which presents market participants with the challenge of finding new strategies for effective interaction and optimization of transportation.