In week 11, the Azov–Black Sea region saw a sharp increase in freight rates to USD 55 per ton for shipments of 3,000 tons of wheat from Azov to the Marmara Sea ports. Such a sharp rise is not supported by stronger grain demand or an increase in forward sales contracts, but rather reflects the general trend of recent weeks — rising freight driven by higher fuel prices. At the same time, no shortage of tonnage is currently observed in the region for March dates. The export duty rate in Russia for wheat, corn and barley will again remain at zero starting from 11 March. In the Baltic region, due to favorable weather conditions and warming in the Baltic region, fleet turnover has increased. A shortage of cargoes is beginning to be felt, which is expected to put downward pressure on freight rates. However, higher fuel prices are currently keeping freight rates at the level of the previous week. For freight rates please visit our website https://sealines.su/en/market-news/