Maritime glossary · BDI
Baltic Dry Index
A daily index of dry bulk freight rates across Capesize, Panamax, and Supramax routes, a barometer of the bulk market.
Definition
The Baltic Dry Index, published by the Baltic Exchange in London, tracks the cost of moving dry bulk cargoes like iron ore, coal, and grain across a basket of major routes and ship sizes (Capesize, Panamax, and Supramax). It is a pure freight index, untied to any single commodity, which is why it is often read as a leading indicator of global trade and raw-material demand. The index swings sharply with the balance of cargo and available tonnage.
How Vessel Hunter uses Baltic Dry Index
When the dry bulk market moves, fleet activity moves with it. Vessel Hunter shows the vessel-level detail behind the index: which bulkers are trading, and for whom.
Related terms
- Freight
The money paid to carry cargo by sea, usually quoted per tonne or as a lumpsum in a voyage charter.
- Capesize
A large dry bulk carrier above roughly 150,000 DWT, too big for the Suez and Panama canals.
- Panamax
A vessel sized to the original Panama Canal locks, with a beam limit of 32.31 metres.
- Bulk Carrier
A single-deck ship built to carry unpackaged dry bulk cargo like grain, coal, ore, and cement in large holds.
The bigger picture
Baltic Dry Index is one piece of the commercial maritime picture Vessel Hunter pulls together for shipyards, suppliers, service providers, and port agents. Every vessel record bundles AIS, ownership, inspections, dry-dock history, casualty record, classification status, and a verified contact for the operator decision-maker behind the ship, so the team that reaches out first wins the work.
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