Industrial Minerals


Baltic Dry Index falls to near half-year lows

16 August 2012


Limited Indonesia bauxite exports pressures shipping; end to strike could lift rates

Keywords: BDI, Capesize, Panamax, Supramax, Handymax, China, bauxite, Colombia strike

By Wayne Yamada

Shipping rates for dry bulk minerals fell to five-and-a-half-month lows this week, with soft Asian
commodity demand still weighing on the market.

 

Limited Indonesia bauxite and nickel exports added pressure, although an end to the Columbia
railway workers' strike could lift shipping rates.

 

The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) was 728 on 15 August compared with 812 on 8 August, which is the
lowest since level since late February this year.  

 

Capesize, Panamax, Supramax, and Handymax indices were 1,120, 801, 856, and 506
respectively.

 

Continued uncertainty in Chinese iron ore demand pulled the BDI lower.  

 

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