Baltic index logs best day in 2 months

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
Feb 20 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index , logged its best day in nearly two months on Monday on gains in rates for capesize and supramax shipping vessels.
* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, was up 14 points, or 2.6%, at 552.
* The capesize index gained 13 points, or 4.8%, at 284.
* Average daily earnings for capesizes , which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, gained $108 to $2,354.
* Dalian iron ore futures rose, extending gains for the fourth straight session, as hopes of stronger demand in top steelmaker China supported market sentiment.
* The supramax index rose 32 points to 727.
* The panamax index , however, was down 2 points at 809, lowest since mid-June 2020.
* Average daily earnings for panamaxes , which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, lost $25 to $7,277.
* Ukraine grain exports are down 28.7% at 30.3 million tonnes in the 2022/23 season so far, hit by a smaller harvest and logistical difficulties caused by the Russian invasion, agriculture ministry data showed. (Reporting by Harshit Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)

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