The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index fell on Thursday as rates weakened across all vessel segments, with a lower iron ore export outlook from a Brazilian miner weighing on the capesize segment.
The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell by 12 points, or 1%, to 1,189, the lowest in more than a week.
The capesize index slipped 6 points or 0.4% to 1,480, its weakest since Nov. 25.
Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, fell $48 to $12,274.
China’s iron ore benchmark scaled a record high on Thursday after Brazilian miner Vale SA unveiled output targets that lagged forecasts, adding to concerns about weak seaborne supply.
“There has been a further pressure in the Pacific and lack of Brazil requirements, resulting in a depressive mood for the Capesizes. The present average index value is at USD 12,000 and there is potential as well as expectations for a further drop,” Fearnleys research said in a weekly note.
The panamax index was down by 34 points, or 2.5%, at 1,345, its lowest since Nov. 19.
Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes, were down $303 to $12,104.
The supramax index edged down by 4 points to 1,015.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Bharat Gautam in Bengaluru)