Finance
Baltic Index Rises to Over Four-Month High on Gains Across Vessel Segments
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 17, 2026
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Quick Summary
On April 17, the Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index surged to a four‑plus‑month high, reaching 2,567, driven by broad gains across capesize, panamax and supramax segments, marking its eleventh consecutive daily gain and biggest weekly jump since January.
Baltic Dry Bulk Index Surges to Highest Level Since December 2025
Key Developments in the Baltic Dry Bulk Freight Market
Baltic Exchange Dry Bulk Index Performance
April 17 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk freight index, which monitors rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, surged to its highest in more than four months on Friday and logged a weekly rise, as vessels across the board gained.
• The main Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was up 44 points, or 1.7%, at 2,567, its highest level since early December 2025.
• The index was up for the eleventh straight session and rose 16.6% for the week. This is its biggest weekly rise since the end of January.
Capesize Vessel Index
• The capesize index added 102 points, or about 2.5%, to 4,128, its highest level in more than four months. The index logged a 24.4% weekly rise.
• Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes, including iron ore and coal, were up $920 at $33,932.
Market Drivers for Capesize Segment
• Dalian iron ore futures edged higher on Friday, as investors weighed potential supply disruptions in Australia against tempered demand stemming from China's environmental curbs in a key steel-making province. [IRONORE/]
• "Freight markets show Pacific-led strength in Capesize," Kpler said in a note dated Wednesday.
Panamax Vessel Index
• The panamax index added 5 points, or around 0.3%, to 1,975, marking the highest level since early March and logging a 6.5% weekly gain.
• Average daily earnings for panamax vessels, which usually carry 60,000 to 70,000 tons of coal or grain, increased by $43 to $17,773.
Supramax Vessel Index
• The supramax index gained 17 points, or 1.2%, to 1,415. It posted a weekly rise of 8.2%.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Diti Pujara)
Key Takeaways
- •Baltic main index rose 44 points (1.7%) to 2,567, highest since Dec 8, 2025; up 16.6% for the week—its strongest weekly gain since late January (tradingeconomics.com)
- •Capesize segment led the rally, climbing 102 points (2.5%) to 4,128—its best in over four months—with daily earnings at $33,932 (tradingeconomics.com)
- •Panamax and supramax also advanced: panamax up 5 points (0.3%) to 1,975 with earnings at $17,773; supramax up 17 points (1.2%) to 1,415 (tradingeconomics.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Baltic index rises to over four-month high on gains across vessel segments
1What is the Baltic Exchange's dry bulk freight index?
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk freight index monitors rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal, and grain.
2Which vessel segments contributed to the Baltic index rise?
Capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments all showed gains, contributing to the overall index increase.
3How much did capesize vessel earnings increase?
Average daily earnings for capesize vessels rose by $920 to reach $33,932.
4What factors influenced dry bulk freight rates this week?
Freight rates were supported by Pacific-led strength in capesize vessels and supply concerns in Australia for iron ore shipments.
5How did the panamax and supramax segments perform?
The panamax index reached its highest since March, rising 0.3% daily and 6.5% weekly, while the supramax index gained 1.2% daily and 8.2% weekly.
