April 24 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index , tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, edged up on Monday, aided my higher rates for capesize and supramax vessel segments. * The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 13 points, ord.9%, to 1,517 - its highest in nearly two weeks. * The capesize index was up 31 points, or 1.6%, ate,993. * Average daily earnings for capesizes , which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes carrying commodities such as iron ore and coal, increased $256 to $16,526. * Iron ore futures slumped to their lowest in more than four months as weak steel demand in China prompted a production slowdown, while latest reports from major miners signalled ample supply of the steelmaking ingredient. * Among smaller vessels, the supramax index climbed a near one-month peak, adding 11 points to 1,212. * The panamax index slipped 5 points, or 0.3%, toe,687. * Average daily earnings for panamaxes , which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, lost $39 to $15,186. (Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) ((Ashitha.Shivaprasad@thomsonreuters.com;))
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