The Baltic Index, the market gauge for dry bulk freight, fell 0.3% to 2,994 points on Tuesday, bringing the measure to its weakest level since late August, sources indicated on 7 October 2026.
The decline marked a third consecutive session of losses for the benchmark after a run of steadier readings through September. The latest easing leaves the index below the key 3,000-point mark and signals a short-term softening in the market for dry bulk cargoes.
The capesize component recorded the steeper move within the suite of Baltic measures, slipping 0.9% to its lowest reading since 21 August. That fall left capesize values notably weaker than the broader index, underscoring pressure on the largest bulk carrier segment.
By contrast, the indices that track panamax and supramax vessels posted modest gains on the same day. Those two segments inched higher, tempering the overall decline and showing a mixed picture across vessel classes.
The Baltic Index is widely used as a barometer for the price of moving dry bulk commodities by sea, and the most recent data point will draw attention from charterers and owners monitoring short-term freight movements. The back-to-back sessions of downward readings have reversed some of the firmness seen earlier in the quarter.
Capesize movement
Capesize rates have been the principal driver of the recent weakness in the overall Baltic measure, with Tuesday’s 0.9% reduction taking that component to levels not seen since 21 August. The relative size of that drop compared with the broader index highlights the vulnerability of the largest vessel class within the current market move.
Panamax and supramax trends
Panamax and supramax indices bucked the broader fall by advancing slightly on Tuesday, recording incremental upticks rather than material gains. Those marginal rises meant the overall index decline was limited to a fraction of a percent.
reports provided the figures in its report dated 7 October 2026, noting the Baltic Index’s third straight session of decline and the differing fortunes of the capesize, panamax and supramax segments. The numbers will form part of market monitoring for the coming sessions as participants assess whether the recent soft patch will continue or reverse.
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