The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index fell for a second session on Monday, 28 September 2026, sliding about 4.6% to 3,268 points, its lowest reading since 1 September.

The movement was reported, which noted the index tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities. The decline continued a brief spell of weakness in the benchmark that measures freight costs across vessel sizes.

The fall on Monday represented a roughly 4.6% decrease from the previous session and left the index at a level not seen since early September. That reduction follows a sequence of daily changes that have left the headline measure lower over two consecutive sessions.

The downward pressure was concentrated in the capesize segment. The capesize index, which typically covers 150,000-ton ships that carry major bulk cargoes such as iron ore and coal, slipped by 7.5% to 5,351 points.

The capesize move was the largest percentage fall among the published sub-indices on Monday and accounted for a significant portion of the overall drop in the Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index. The capesize figure remains well above the headline dry bulk index because of differences in vessel types and the cargoes they serve.

Index movements

Monday’s session saw the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) retreat to 3,268 points after a near-4.6% decline. The figure marks the lowest BDI reading since 1 September and underscores how quickly daily freight measures can oscillate.

A short summary of the reported figures clarifies the scale of the moves:

  • Baltic Dry Index: down about 4.6% to 3,268 points.
  • Capesize index: down 7.5% to 5,351 points.

Capesize sector

The capesize index, which reflects rates for very large bulk carriers, registered the steepest fall on Monday, according to the report. Those ships normally carry large cargoes such as iron ore and coal and can have an outsized influence on the composite index when their rates move sharply.

The second-session decline recorded on Monday serves as the most recent reading in a short series of falls, leaving the BDI at its weakest point since the start of September. The published numbers provide a snapshot of freight market conditions at that particular trading session.

The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index remains a widely watched barometer for shipping costs on trades in dry commodities. Monday’s data, as reported, will be used by market participants and commentators to assess short-term dynamics across vessel classes and cargo flows.

The data does not, by itself, identify causes for the movements; it records the level of freight rates and percentage changes observed in the trading session on 28 September 2026. Further sessions and data releases will determine whether the recent dip proves temporary or part of a longer trend.