SHIPPING volume to and from Ukraine's Black Sea ports is in decline, according to the latest numbers from VesselsValue, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The Russian naval fleet exercise involves an unusually large concentration of tank landing ships, including six vessels that relocated thousands of nautical miles from the Baltic Sea in order to join in.
The Ukraine's dry bulk exports were strong in January, well above the historical average, but trade has dropped off sharply this month, said VesselsValue.
Shipments of dry commodities in February are on course for a 44 per cent month-on-month decline - about 15 per cent below the five-year average for the month, according to the agency.
Similarly, Ukraine's oil exports have fallen dramatically, down about 45 per cent month-on-month for February. At least part of this drop in has to do with reduced demand for the Caspian crude grade from Asian refiners. LPG and ammonia exports are also down by about 27 per cent month-on-month, putting them at the low end of their historical range.
Though the Ukrainian government has urged calm, commercial shipping interests in the Black Sea may have cause for concern. Supported by elements of the Baltic and Northern Fleets, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has launched a massive live-fire exercise off the coast of Crimea, prompting concerns over the possibility of an amphibious assault on the Ukrainian coast.
SeaNews Turkey
The Russian naval fleet exercise involves an unusually large concentration of tank landing ships, including six vessels that relocated thousands of nautical miles from the Baltic Sea in order to join in.
The Ukraine's dry bulk exports were strong in January, well above the historical average, but trade has dropped off sharply this month, said VesselsValue.
Shipments of dry commodities in February are on course for a 44 per cent month-on-month decline - about 15 per cent below the five-year average for the month, according to the agency.
Similarly, Ukraine's oil exports have fallen dramatically, down about 45 per cent month-on-month for February. At least part of this drop in has to do with reduced demand for the Caspian crude grade from Asian refiners. LPG and ammonia exports are also down by about 27 per cent month-on-month, putting them at the low end of their historical range.
Though the Ukrainian government has urged calm, commercial shipping interests in the Black Sea may have cause for concern. Supported by elements of the Baltic and Northern Fleets, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has launched a massive live-fire exercise off the coast of Crimea, prompting concerns over the possibility of an amphibious assault on the Ukrainian coast.
SeaNews Turkey
