Fastmarkets launches new price assessments for Russian wheat at Baltic ports

Fastmarkets has introduced new price assessments for Russian wheat exported through Baltic Sea ports. The move reflects the growing importance of the Baltic route in Russian grain exports amid logistical disruptions in the Azov-Black Sea basin.

According to the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR), grain shipments through Russia’s Black Sea ports fell to 280 thsd t in September 2026 from 1.54 mln t in August. Their share of total exports declined from 48% to 9%. Meanwhile, shipments through Baltic ports increased from 340 thsd t to 1.35 mln t, with their share reaching 43%.

According to Russian Deputy Agriculture Minister Maxim Borovoy, grain exports through Baltic ports could exceed 1.5 mln t in October, matching the total volume shipped during the entire previous marketing year. To support alternative export routes, Russian authorities have introduced rail freight subsidies. However, high transportation costs and limited railway capacity continue to constrain the competitiveness of these shipments.

In response to shifting export flows, Fastmarkets has introduced separate price assessments for wheat with 12.5% and 11.5% protein content on an FOB basis at Russian Baltic ports. As of October 12, prices stood at $268/t and $260/t, respectively. The new assessments aim to improve price transparency, taking into account logistical differences compared with traditional Black Sea routes.

In addition, Fastmarkets has launched a freight rate assessment for Handy-sized vessels transporting cargoes from Russian Baltic ports to Egypt. The new Freight Russian Baltic-Egypt assessment will provide market participants with a benchmark for maritime transportation costs along this route.

Tags: Russia, prices, wheat