March 15 (Reuters) – The Baltic Exchange’s most important sea freight index, monitoring charges for ships carrying dry bulk commodities had been up on Tuesday supported by improved demand throughout all vessel segments, other than panamaxes which remained flat.

The total index that elements within the charges for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize transport vessels, was up three factors, or 0.76 p.c, to 396 factors.

The panamax index remained unchanged at 481 factors.

Average day by day earnings for panamaxes, which normally carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, fell $2 to $3,859.

The capesize index rose seven factors, or 3.91 p.c, to 186 factors.

Average day by day earnings for capesizes, which generally transport 150,000-tonne cargoes equivalent to iron ore and coal, rose $53 to $2,211.

Among smaller vessels, the supramax index gained 5 factors to 432 factors, and the handysize index was up three factors at 255 factors. (Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru)

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