【Ferro-alloys.com】The epidemic has brought many uncertainties to global transportation and supply chains. Following the rise in container prices, the rise in dry bulk freight rates has now become a new focus of market attention.

Dry bulk cargo refers to items that can be handled and transported in bulk, such as grains, iron ore, and coal. Container and dry bulk freight rates are both high. What impact will this have on global food prices?

Affected by the epidemic, container freight rates have continued to rise in the past year. Recently, the rapid increase in dry bulk freight has caused concern. S&P Global Platts reported on July 20 that the dry bulk freight for some commodities has been at an 11-year high. Its latest weekly report estimates that the freight for sugar from Santos, Brazil to Rizhao, Shandong, China is US$64.5 per ton. This is the highest level since June 11, 2010.

The increase in dry bulk freight is mainly due to the recovery of infrastructure construction, which has increased the demand for transportation of bulk commodities such as iron ore. In addition, some major Asian economies have substantially increased their imports of major agricultural products such as soybeans, wheat, and corn, which has also pushed up international freight rates. 

• [Editor:zhaozihao]