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Baltic index strikes one-week short on capesize weakness

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index extended declines on Tuesday and touched its lowest level in a week, harmed by a slide in capesize vessel rates.

* The general index, which consider rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell by 78 points, or 4.1%, to 1,804 points, its most affordable level because April 16.

* The capesize index shed 244 points, or about 9%,. to 2,458, marking its worst day considering that April 2.

* Average day-to-day profits for capesize vessels,. which typically carries 150,000-ton freights such as iron ore. and coal, decreased by $2,021 to $20,389.

* Iron ore futures prices succumbed to a second straight session. to their least expensive level in nearly one week on indications of softening. in the steel market due to subdued demand in top consumer China.

* The panamax index declined by 14 points, or 0.7%,. at 1,914 points.

* Typical everyday profits for panamax vessels, which. usually carries about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain cargo,. lost $126 to $17,222.

* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index was up. by 20 points, or 1.4%, to 1,430 points.

* Meanwhile, worldwide unrefined steel production fell 4.3% in. March from a year previously to 161.2 million metric tons, World. Steel Association information showed.

(source: Reuters)