Black Sea grain flow // week 42

Brief summary:

- The total volume of grain departed from Azov-Black Sea ports has grown by around 25% amid a significant increase in Ukrainian exports as well as brisker shipments from Russia and Bulgaria;

- Corn has overcome barley to become the 2nd most popular agri cargo in the basin (with more than 160k tons loaded onboard this week);

- The number of vessels being laden at sea has risen from 313 to 337 units amid a further upturn in the number of coasters, but the total volume of grain en route has barely changed over the week;

- Egypt keeps strengthening its leadership in the list of most popular destinations for Black Sea grains at sea, having reached 1.3 million tons heading towards its ports;

- Spain, Italy, the UAE and Iran have seen an upturn in volumes heading towards their ports;

- The volume of discharged grain has inched down by 100k tons (or 4%), although the number of discharged Panamax carriers has risen from 5 to 7 vessels;

- Italy, Spain and Bangladesh have shown the most noticeable increase in imported (discharged) volumes this week.