Demurrage costs over USD 20 thousand per day in Bosphorus: Mykola Solskiy

Vessels carrying Ukrainian grain may wait for several weeks to pass through the Bosphorus. Demurrage costs exceed USD 20 thousand per day, and Ukrainian producers have to cover these expenses, announced the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskiy, Ukrinform reports.

"The principal issue that Ukraine is trying to settle is the control in the Bosporus, the work of the JCC. The negotiations are tough. The number of ships going in and out is obviously insufficient, and this is the thing that creates troubles for the Ukrainian farmer, the Ukrainian trader and our customers. Grain is increasingly expensive and unpredictable for the countries buying it from Ukraine," he explains.

According to Solskiy, ships are anchored for weeks before they enter the Bosphorus Strait.

"If we are talking about a Handysize demurrage, before the New Year traders estimated it at USD 20 thousand per day. Accordingly, all the expenses will be borne by a Ukrainian agrarian. This is reflected in tens of dollars per ton of products," the minister concluded.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported 109 vessels waiting for inspection by the JCC as of January 15. 22 of them are loaded with agricultural commodities.