The Baltic Exchange’s main dry bulk freight index, which aggregates rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, slipped 42 points, or 1.5%, to 2,729 on Thursday, marking its lowest level since May 1. The capesize component fell 161 points, a 3.7% decline, to 4,140, and the average daily earnings for capesize vessels—typically carrying 150,000‑ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal—dropped $1,456 to $34,048. In contrast, the panamax index rose 40 points, or 1.8%, to 2,251. Iron ore futures also moved lower as shipment volumes rose while steel demand in China remained weak, and market participants continued to watch anti‑dumping investigations underway in Britain and India.