European barge freight rates: clear divergence between UK-Germany exports and Southern European routes

(1) According to European traders' quotations, the barge freight rate from the UK East Coast to Portugal is about €22.50 per ton. (2) From the UK East Coast to Oldenburg, it's about €19.00 per ton, and to the northern coast of Spain, about €21.00 per ton. (3) From the German Baltic Sea to ARAG, it's about €18.00 per ton, and to Portugal, about €28.00 per ton. (4) From the German Baltic Sea to the west coast of Italy, it's about €48.00 per ton, and to Greece, about €70.00 per ton. (5) From the German Baltic Sea to the UK East Coast, it's about €19.00 per ton; to the UK West Coast, about €24.00 per ton; to the northern coast of Spain, about €24.00 per ton; and to the southern coast of Spain, about €33.00 per ton. (6) Freight rate quotations indicate that the cost for short-haul and Northern European routes is significantly lower than for long-haul Southern European routes. The freight from the German Baltic Sea to Greece is more than three times that to the UK East Coast. (7) Ongoing attention should be paid to the trade flows of European grains and oilseeds, inland waterway levels, and changes in fuel costs, as these factors will affect barge freight rates and regional price differentials.