# Uncertain waters for shipping market | World Grain

> Dry bulk freight rates are lower than a year ago but slightly higher in Q2 than Q1, as the IGC grain freight index fell 15% year on year. BIMCO expects panamax rates to stay soft through 2025 on fleet growth and weaker coal demand. Tariff wars and geopolitical tensions add uncertainty, especially for US grain shippers.

- Date: 2025-07-09 · published 2025-07-09T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region Global · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16931-uncertain-waters-for-shipping-market-world-grain
- Commodities: [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md)

## Why it matters

Soft panamax rates lower delivered costs for soybean, corn and wheat exporters, which supports export competitiveness and can widen origin spreads.

## Read by commodity

- BARGE: neutral
- OCEANFRT: bearish ▼

## Sources

- world-grain.com: https://www.world-grain.com/articles/21603-uncertain-waters-for-shipping-market

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.