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Baltic index slides for seventh straight sessions

The Baltic Exchange's primary dry bulk sea freight index on Wednesday fell for the seventh consecutive session to its lowest levels in more than a month, injured by declining rates throughout all vessel sectors.

* The total index, which consider rates for panamax, supramax and capesize shipping vessels, fell by 144 points, or 7.2%, to 1,845 points, its least expensive because Feb. 22.

* The capesize index lost 326 points, or 11%, at 2,638, down for the seventh straight session.

* Average daily profits for capesize vessels, which usually transports 150,000-ton freights such as iron ore and coal, decreased by $2,705 to $21,875.

* Iron ore futures costs struck their least expensive levels in more than one week, pressured by consistent issues about need in leading customer China amid a lack of significant policy steps to increase steel uptake.

* The panamax index, fell by 103 points or 5%, at 1,941 points, hitting it lowest level in over two weeks.

* Average day-to-day earnings for panamax vessels, which normally brings about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain cargo, fell $922 at $17,470.

* Among smaller sized vessels, the supramax index edged down to 1,353 points.

* Baltimore's Francis Scott Secret Bridge collapsed on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into a pylon, with the six people missing out on presumed dead after falling into the frigid water below. The disaster required the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the U.S. Eastern Coast.

* With the suspension of traffic at Port of Baltimore, in general it appears the market effect on container shipping and dry bulk will be reasonably soft though at the margin this disturbance does have some tightening up impact, Jefferies experts composed in a note.

* Coal exports from the port have been interfered with, rail and coal companies stated. During the very first nine months of 2023, Baltimore exported about 20.3 million brief lots of coal, up from 14.3 million brief heaps during the exact same period in 2022.

(source: Reuters)