Baltic Dry Index Soars to All Year High

The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), which had plunged to all time lows earlier this year, has recovered to an all year high reaching 829 points on 24 June 2015, shipping association BIMCO said.

The hike signals that the devastating dry bulk market may finally be on the rebound.

“June has delivered what May was unable to – keeping the momentum going. Since the drop in January, we have seen the BDI average at 576 for the four months of February to May,” BIMCO added.

According to data from Commodore Research, Chinese iron ore fixtures hit an all-year-high in mid-May. Most of it came from China’s main supplier Australia, but the demand was supported by an all-year-high level of shipments out of Brazil too. Since then Capesize earnings lost some ground only to come back with a vengeance as more shipments were coming out of Brazil and Australia again. The weekly number from Brazil went up by 45% when comparing the time up-to mid-May with the following weeks.

 “We have seen the BDI constantly go higher since end-May. Chinese iron ore fixtures has been on a slow but rising trend throughout the year, so what we are seeing now has been long coming.

But this is not all about the demand side the lift would not have been possible without the support coming from a decreasing Capesize fleet size. Since we entered into 2015 the Capesize fleet is now short of 22 ships equal to a drop in capacity of 0.7%,” said Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO, Peter Sand.

The BDI is lifted on the back of stronger Capesize earnings which has more than doubled during the month of June. Panamax earnings have also improved significantly since late May.

“As we have said before, BIMCO do expect rising volumes as the year progresses which should support the market if the supply side also contributes with limited fleet growth. In spite of the most recent development the market is still moving forward on fairly thin ice,” adds Sand.