Grain freight from Giurgiulesti to Constanta jumps to $75/t as Danube water levels fall

The cost of transporting grain from the port of Giurgiulesti to Constanta has risen to around $75/t due to high fuel prices and low water levels on the Danube and Prut rivers. Previously, freight on this route cost about $15–35/t.

Low river levels are forcing barges and vessels to carry smaller cargoes. This reduces available transport capacity, increases demand for shipping and, in turn, raises logistics costs for grain exporters.

To partly address the problem, the port of Giurgiulesti has approved a new two-stage vessel loading scheme. Ships will first be partially loaded at the berth before proceeding to mile 72 of the Danube, where additional cargo will be transferred from barges.

A floating crane has already been deployed, while the necessary approvals have been obtained from Romanian border and customs authorities. The scheme is expected to improve vessel utilization despite draft restrictions caused by low water levels.

Regional logistics are also under additional pressure from Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports, which have increased reliance on alternative routes through Moldova and Romania. As a result, Constanta, Giurgiulesti, Izmail and Reni remain key hubs for grain flows in the region.

Tags: grain, logistics, freight costs, Constanta, Danube region, grain freight