The Baltic Dry Index rose by 34 points to 3,370 on Friday, 18 September 2026, according to a report published by reports.
The index is compiled by the London-based Baltic Exchange and tracks the cost of shipping bulk commodities. Movements in the index are a direct reflection of changes in freight rates for dry bulk cargoes that are transported by sea.
How the index is compiled The Baltic Dry Index is calculated from a daily survey of brokers and agents worldwide conducted by the Baltic Exchange. That methodology means the index provides a near-daily snapshot of activity and prevailing price levels across the dry bulk freight market.
Cargoes represented The index aggregates rates for a range of non-containerised bulk cargoes, notably coal, grain and iron ore, which are among the principal commodities carried on the trades covered by the exchange. Variations in supply, demand and vessel availability for those cargoes feed directly into the index level reported each day.
reports recorded the rise to 3,370 on 18 September 2026, citing the Baltic Exchange figures. The report provides the numerical change without further commentary on drivers or regional detail beyond the index movement itself.
Traders, shipowners and charterers commonly watch the Baltic Dry Index as a market indicator because it consolidates rates across vessel sizes and routes. While the index does not publish individual fixture details in the numbers reported, it is widely used as a reference point for market sentiment in dry bulk shipping.
The published figure of 3,370, up 34 points on the day, is the factual market movement reported on 18 September 2026. No additional contemporaneous data or explanatory notes were supplied with the verified item used for this report.