Black Sea 2015 box trade forecast at 2.5m teu

The container market of the Black Sea region had been affected by several significant events in October, and previous months, but no more are expected until the end of the year.

MSC and MAERSK announced the termination of direct calls to the Black Sea port from Southeast Asia due to significant decrease of freight turnover and freight rates, while another major event was the expansion of the Turkon Line service.

Novorossiysk, Russia’s main port in the Black Sea region, showed that total container turnover in the first quarter of 2015 had decreased by 4.25% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.

In the second and third quarters of 2015 it decreased by 4.80% and 23.74% compared to the previous period.

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port terminal has put new container handling cranes into operation and in November began quay expansion scheduled for completion in 2018. This will hopefully increase the container shipping market, as the terminal will be able to handle 8000-1000 teu vessels.

Away from Russia, the total container turnover in Romania and Bulgaria was more positive, increasing by 3.57% and 4.35% respectively.

The total container turnover in Ukraine in 2015, in the second quarter, decreased by 19.93% but saw a turnaround in the third quarter when it increased by 10.35%. But it is worth noting that in 9 months of 2015 the total laden container turnover of Ukraine has decreased by 28.38% compared to the previous year.

Along with the ongoing recession causing significant changes, the geographical distribution of container volumes of the Black Sea region countries has majorly changed in 2015.