Capesize rates proved the main driver as more points were added to the Baltic Dry Index today.

Improvements were seen in both basins as the fixture count increased but much of the rise has been linked to higher fuel costs.

Progress in the Pacific yesterday was not enough to inspire a rise in the panamax index, which has been pointing downwards for more than seven days now.

Capesizes:

STX Pan Ocean has added the 151,100-dwt C Summit (built 1995) to its roster for the next five to seven months. It will pay $10,750 per day for the ship.

The Chinese owned 177,400-dwt Lin Jie (built 2003) has been picked up for seven to 10 months at $13,250 daily.

Noble came to the party on the Brazil China ore route. It has booked the Kumiai Shagang (built 2011) and the Anangel Odyssey (built 2006) out of Tubarao for Qingdao at $20.35 and $20.30 per ton respectively.

Rio Tinto has hired another TBN vessel out of Dampier for China at $7.60 per ton, the same as NSC has paid for the 160,000 Stella Alice (built 2010) to make the same voyage.

Cargill has booked the 179,700-dwt Anangel Merchant (built 2010) in Japan for an Australia to Singapore-Japan charter at $6,000 daily.

Panamaxes:

Lavinia Corp of Greece has hired its 75,000-dwt newbuildling Lavinia Thisseas to Oldendorff for 11 to 14 months at $11,250 daily.

Gleamray Maritime’s 87,000-dwt Athanassios GO (built 2011) has been fixed by Cobelfret at $9,500 daily for four to eight months.

Rewood Ocean Shipping’s 82,300-dwt Rosco Poplar (built 2008) and Blue Star’s 74,500-dwt Pavian (built 2001) have been picked up for three to five months at $11,250 and $10,000 per day respectively.

Limited cargo remains a problem for the over-tonnaged Atlantic while the Pacific is being helped by grain cargoes.

Alfred C.Toepfer has fixed the 74,800-dwt Silver Phoenix in Santos for the Far East at $13,250 and a $475,000 bonus.

E.On has fixed the 91,900-dwt Moon Breeze (built 2011) out of the US east coast for Europe at $9,500 daily and a $230,000 bonus.

Jaldhi has hired the 80,400-dwt Wadi Safaga (built 2010) in India for China at $12,000 daily.

Norden has taken on the 73,900-dwt Ecola (built 2001) in Penang for Indonesia and Singapore-Japan at $8,750 daily.

Cargill has put up $8,000 daily for the 74,200-dwt Tian Du Feng (built 2001) in the North Pacific for Singapore-Japan.

C Transport has fixed the $7,500 daily 82,200-dwt Iron lindrew (built 2007) for an Indonesia to India run at $7,500 daily.

Supramaxes:

STX Pan Ocean’s interest in the period market extended to the supramax arena.

Zodiac Maritime’s 53,500-dwt Castlegate (built 2008) has gone to the Korean outfit for four to six months at $9,750 daily.

Oldendorff has hired the 53,500-dwt Navios Mercator (built 2003) for an Indonesia to India run at $8,600 daily.

Date	Capesize	Panamax	Supramax	Handysize	Dry index
23/02/2012	1,471 (11)	849 (-22)	647 ( 6)	393 ( 4)	706 ( 2)
22/02/2012	1,460 ( 8)	871 (-29)	641 ( 1)	389 ( 1)	704 (- 2)
21/02/2012	1,452 (- 4)	900 (-31)	640 (- 5)	388 ( 3)	706 (- 9)
20/02/2012	1,456 (- 5)	931 (-18)	645 ( 4)	385 ( 6)	715 (- 2)
17/02/2012	1,461 (- 3)	949 (-25)	641 ( 0)	379 ( 1)	717 (- 6)
16/02/2012	1,464 (- 2)	974 (-31)	641 (- 5)	378 ( 2)	723 (- 8)
15/02/2012	1,466 (- 2)	1,005 (-13)	646 (- 6)	376 ( 3)	731 (- 3)
14/02/2012	1,468 ( 5)	1,018 (10)	652 ( 1)	373 ( 5)	734 ( 5)
13/02/2012	1,463 ( 6)	1,008 (41)	651 ( 6)	368 ( 2)	729 (14)