The dry freight derivatives market is approaching near record levels.

The market has witnessed massive growth with 2m lots expected to be traded this year, said Freight Investor Services (FIS) managing director John Banaszkiewicz.

Dry forward freight agreement (FFA) volumes would then be just one-fifth below their all-time highs in 2008, he told a Baltic Exchange webinar.

Year-on-year volumes for FFA's to date have risen 16% for capes, 11% for panamax, 44% for supramax and 25% for options.