Russia's rejection on Friday of the idea of a ceasefire with Ukraine in the Black Sea also rekindled market worries after a Reuters report on Thursday said Ukraine sent an offer suggesting a halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea.
“Ship war safety was not a serious consideration in loading in Novorossiysk before the current escalation," one German trader said.
“Russian exports via Novorossiysk have been basically stopped for the last couple of days after the drone attacks this week, the question is how long for. There is market talk shipments from Novorossiysk could be expected to resume in the next few days, depending on how willing shipowners will be to send their vessels into the war risk zone.”
There was also talk of plans to route Russian exports via Baltic Sea ports including Vysotsk and Ust-Luga, another German trader said.
Difficulties for German grain logistics continued with the Rhine river falling to new lows, disrupting cargo shipping.
In France, wheat loading activity remained light, keeping attention on high stock levels at port silos.