marine link image
REGISTER NOW FOR the Port of the Future Conference • 2 Days, 50 Ports • Houston, TX • March 24–25, 2026

Baltic Index Dips as Panamax Rates Slide

July 29, 2019

File Image: CREDIT AdobeStock / © Volodymyr Kyrylyuk
File Image: CREDIT AdobeStock / © Volodymyr Kyrylyuk

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell to a more than two-week low on Monday, weighed down by weaker rates for panamax vessels.

The Baltic index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell 0.8%, or 15 points, to 1,922 points, its lowest since July 12. Nevertheless, the capesize index rose 13 points, or 0.4%, to 3,660 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000 tonne-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, rose $72 to $27,217.

The panamax index fell 59 points, or nearly 3%, to its lowest in two weeks at 2,050 points. Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes, decreased $470 to $16,399.

The supramax index fell 9 points to 996 points.

Reporting by Eileen Soreng

Logistics News

Fertilizer Prices Surge

Fertilizer Prices Surge

China in Talks with Iran on Safe Passage

China in Talks with Iran on Safe Passage

Windward Daily Brief March 5: Conflict Reaches Indian Ocean as Hormuz Remains Shut

Windward Daily Brief March 5: Conflict Reaches Indian Ocean as Hormuz Remains Shut

Bunge Explores Alternative Shipping Routes as Middle East Conflict Worsens

Bunge Explores Alternative Shipping Routes as Middle East Conflict Worsens

Subscribe for Maritime Logistics Professional E‑News

MSC will introduce an emergency fuel surcharge for all cargoes from Northern Europe to the Red Sea and East Africa
Main union: Seafarers may refuse to sail in the Mideast Gulf region
Syria opens a new air corridor between the Mediterranean and Aleppo that could ease regional tensions