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Baltic index slips as capesize losses exceed panamax gains

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index decreased on Thursday, as a fall in capesize rates overshadowed gains in the panamax section.

* The overall index, which consider rates for supramax, panamax and capesize shipping vessels, lost 20 points, or 0.8%, to 2,350 points.

* The capesize index was down by 147 points, or 3.5%, to 4,042, its lowest level in a week.

* Typical daily revenues for capesize vessels, which normally carries 150,000-ton freights such as iron ore and coal, reduced by $1,216 to $33,521.

* Iron ore futures prices suffered with lingering issues over need in leading consumer China functioning as a headwind, regardless of Beijing's latest promise of equipment upgrades that capped some losses previously in the session.

* The panamax index got 90 points, or 4.4%, to 2,133 points, its greatest level considering that Dec. 7.

* Typical everyday profits for panamax vessels, which generally bring about 60,000-70,000 lots of coal or grain freight, were up $812 at $19,197.

* The panamax market has seen a substantial boost, primarily in the Atlantic due to a scarcity of ships and strong demand, primarily from the North Atlantic and East Coast South America (ECSA), driving rates up, shipbroker Fearnleys composed in weekly note on Wednesday.

* Amongst smaller sized vessels, the supramax index, was up by 13 points to 1,314 points.