From August 4 to August 10, 2026, FESCO stopped accepting new bookings for shipments through the Black Sea after the loss of the container ship Yanina. Grain exports started weakly: July wheat is at its lowest since 2017. At the same time, Sealegend is obtaining permits for regular service along the Northern Sea Route, the North-South International Transport Corridor is increasing in the Trans-Caspian region, and Russian Railways are offering discounts to metallurgists and maintaining container growth.
FESCO stops Black Sea bookings
On August 4, FESCO posted a message on its website FESCO. After the incident with the container ship Yanina, the group temporarily suspended the acceptance of new bookings for shipments through the Black Sea waters. Booking will be closed until solutions are developed, taking into account military and insurance risks. The safety of crews and cargo is named an absolute priority. The group is exploring delivery options and promises to report separately on the status change.
For the client, this is a stop of new bookings on the Black Sea leg of the operator from the Rosatom контур. If the cargo goes through Novorossiysk, an alternative route must be sought now, not after being refused a slot.
July minimum wheat and Azov-Black Sea crisis
On August 9, PortNews reported SovEcon's assessment. Wheat exports from the Russian Federation in July amounted to 1.6 million tons. This is the lowest for July since the 2017/2018 season. A year earlier, it was 2.1 million tons, the five-year norm is about 3.1 million. Analysts attribute the weak start to navigation restrictions in the Azov Sea, attacks on export infrastructure, and weak demand from Egypt and Turkey. The forecast for wheat exports for the season was reduced to 44.6 million tons.
The market, through Interfax, discusses the potential of the season with a narrow corridor for exports due to disruptions in the Azov-Black Sea basin, including damage to infrastructure at the port of Taman at the end of July. There is a harvest, but the corridor for exports is again being cut by risks on the water.
Sealegend on the Northern Sea Route and North-South ITC growth
On August 7, Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev reported through Interfax that Chinese Sealegend Shipping was granted permits for the passage of seven vessels along the Northern Sea Route. This is the first regular weekly container route from China to Europe. In the 2026 navigation season, they plan 8 flights with a fleet of seven small and medium-class container ships. Previously, transit along the Northern Sea Route to British Felixstowe took about 20 days, compared to about 37 through the Suez Canal. Against the backdrop of risks in the Persian Gulf in 2026, more than 30 Chinese container flights along the Northern Sea Route are expected. The cargo flow target for the Russian Federation-China along the Northern Sea Route by 2030 is 20 million tons.
On the same day, Russian Railways reported on the North-South ITC. According to PortNews, 6.7 million tons were transported in January-July (+4% year-on-year). The Trans-Caspian route increased by 29.2%. In the message to Iran, 600 thousand tons were sent, an increase of 1.5 times. Drivers: transit Belarus-Afghanistan and export of Russian grain. While the southern sea cuts slots, the Arctic and Caspian corridor are gaining schedule and tons.
Discounts for metallurgists, containers, and the Chekhov-Chita train
On August 7, Russian Railways expanded the package of discounts for the export of metallurgical products with guaranteed volumes. A 46.1% discount applies to additional volumes of ferrous metals over 8.1 million tons per year from the Novolipetsk station. Rolling stock from Kotel station to Novorossiysk will receive 42%, billets from Taganrog to Novorossiysk — 14.6%, rails to Nakhodka-Vostochnaya, Mys Astafyeva, and Novorossiysk — 50%. Until June 30, 2027, there is a 34.3% discount on seamless pipes from Volzhsky to Novorossiysk, until July 31, 2027 — 23.3% on cast iron from Prisad to Novorossiysk. The details of the package were provided by InfraNews and RZD-Partner.
On August 5, the Russian Railways network reported on containers. For January-July, 4.59 million TEU passed (+4.3%). Imports rose to 1.17 million TEU (+22%), exports fell to 1.21 million TEU (−1.7%). In July, 673.1 thousand TEU were transported (+7.4%). On the same day, FESCO launched a regular train from TЛК Chekhov to Chita-1 station. It runs twice a month, takes nine days, and plans up to 250 TEU per month. The first train with 80 TEU arrived in Chita on August 1.
The logistics summary for the week is clear. In the Black Sea, FESCO closed new bookings, grain started weakly with noticeable season potential, and bypasses go through the Northern Sea Route, North-South ITC, tariff discounts to ports, and the land service Chekhov-Chita. It makes sense to recalculate Black Sea slots, check grain and metallurgical chains for bypass corridors, and not expect an early return of the previous Novorossiysk schedule without a backup plan.