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Baltic index strikes near 6-week low on lower vessel need

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, succumbed to a ninth straight session on Tuesday to a. near sixweek low as rates fell across vessel segments.

* The overall index, which consider rates for. capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell by 107. points, or 5.9%, to 1,714 points.

* The capesize index lost 243 points, or 9.2%, at. 2,394, its least expensive level in nearly two months.

* Typical everyday earnings for capesize vessels,. which usually transfers 150,000-ton freights such as iron ore. and coal, decreased by $2,014 to $19,852.

While there has been a noteworthy drop in the baltic. exchange's capesize and panamax indices, they are still. significantly higher than a year ago ... However, there are indications. of cooling need for capesize ships, stated Filipe Gouveia,. BIMCO shipping market analyst

* The panamax index, fell by 63 points or 3.4%, at. 1,816 points, striking it lowest level in 4 weeks.

* Average everyday earnings for panamax vessels, which. normally brings about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain cargo,. fell $572 at $16,341.

* Amongst smaller sized vessels, the supramax index shed 28. points or 2.1% to 1,303 points.

* Dalian iron ore futures rose after a five-session slide,. as Chinese buyers increase purchases ahead of public vacations. later on in the week.

* The Chinese real estate sector's instability is affecting. the broader economy and steel need, with iron ore rates. striking a ten-month low. Although Chinese iron ore need could. still rise despite the realty sector's weak point, continuous. crisis may restrict need growth, Gouveia included.

* On the other hand, the Port of Baltimore opened a short-lived. channel on Monday, freeing some yanks and barges that had been. caught by recently's bridge collapse, but authorities said broader. repair of business shipping remained annoyed by. unyielding conditions.

(source: Reuters)