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Baltic index strikes over 3-week high as vessel rates climb

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight hit a more than threeweek high on Thursday, driven by robust demand across all vessel segments.

* The overall index, which consider rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, increased by 57 points, or 3.1%, to 1,901 points, its highest level since March 26.

* The capesize index gained 85 points, or 3.1%, to 2,845.

* Average everyday earnings for capesize vessels, which generally carries 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased by $705 to $23,598.

* Iron ore futures rose for a 2nd straight session on Thursday, underpinned by heightened expectations of growing need in top customer China on the back of improved downstream need and steel margins.

* The panamax index was up 71 points, or 3.9%, at 1,876 points. The index was up for the sixth straight session.

* Average everyday profits for panamax vessels, which usually carries about 60,000-70,000 tons of coal or grain freight, acquired $641 to $16,885.

* The Panamax market is revealing signs of a rebound, driven by a boost in ECSA grain shipments and a relative rise in the Panamax 82 index compared to the Supramax 63 index, shipbroker Fearnleys composed in a weekly note on Wednesday.

* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index was up by 28 points, or 2.1%, to 1,365 points.

(source: Reuters)