The Baltic Exchange’s main dry bulk index rose for a third straight week on Friday 6 November, lifted by stronger Capesize and Panamax rates, Reuters reported.
The index, which tracks rates for Capesize, Panamax and Supramax vessels, gained 65 points, or 2.37%, to 2,805 — its highest since 12 October — and ended the week up 3.4%.
Segment by segment
- Capesize: index up 153 points (3.65%) to 4,344, its highest in nearly a month and a third consecutive weekly gain (up 5.3% on the week). Average daily earnings rose $1,382 to $35,892.
- Panamax: index up 47 points (2.40%) to 2,003, its highest since 27 October, up 6% on the week. Average daily earnings rose $427 to $18,030.
- Supramax: index down 9 points (0.49%) to 1,815, its lowest since 9 October, with a second straight weekly fall (down 2.7%).
Iron ore futures were steady and posted a second weekly gain, supported by expectations of further coke price cuts that could ease cost pressure on steel mills, according to the report.
Why it matters for Bangladesh
Bangladesh brings in much of its bulk cargo — such as coal, clinker and grain — on chartered bulk carriers, so moves in dry bulk freight feed through to import costs. Chartering desks in Dhaka benchmark charter hire and freight rates against the Baltic Dry Index; see, for example, this week’s chartering vacancy at Akij Resources. For more on the current shipbuilding cycle in dry bulk and other sectors, read Record orderbook puts the world’s shipyards on course for a 2028 delivery crunch.
Source: Reuters via Baird Maritime, 6 November 2026.
