The cost of hauling coal, iron ore and grains by sea rose to its highest this year as a five-month rout in raw-material prices spurred demand from consumers seeking to build stockpiles.
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of charter costs for four classes of vessel, gained 1.6 percent to 2,032 points today, according to the London-based Baltic Exchange, which publishes rates for more than 50 maritime routes……………………………………….Full Article: Source