Dry Bulk Freight Index
A composite index tracking the average cost of moving major dry-bulk cargoes by sea — a barometer of dry-bulk demand.
A dry-bulk freight index aggregates assessed freight rates across the main dry-bulk vessel classes (such as Capesize, Panamax and Supramax) into a single composite that tracks how expensive it is to move raw materials — iron ore, coal, grain — by sea.
Because dry-bulk shipping moves the inputs of heavy industry, the index is widely read as a real-economy demand signal. On The Maritime we publish daily dry-bulk and tanker freight series under our own generic names.
On The Maritime
Also known as: dry bulk index, freight index, dry cargo freight index.
Related terms
Forward Freight AgreementFFA
A cash-settled derivative on a freight route that lets owners and charterers hedge or take a view on future freight rates.
WorldscaleWS
A unified index of nominal tanker freight rates that lets the market quote any tanker voyage as a single percentage.
Capesize
A large dry-bulk carrier (typically 100,000+ DWT) too big for the Panama and Suez canals, routing around the Capes.
Panamax
A ship sized to the dimensional limits of the original Panama Canal locks — about 65,000–80,000 DWT for bulkers.
Plain-English reference definition — our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: June 2026.