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May 11, 2026BALTIC DRY INDEX, MAY 2026 The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) measures procurement costs of shipping raw materials by sea.
The BDI recently increased to a value of 3,034 on May 7 - rising sharply after the index had reached a recent low of 1,532 in mid-January. The index had been as low as 715 in January 2025 and 530 in February of 2023.
Although the value of the index has almost doubled since January, it still remains below the recent peak of 3,346 set in December 2023.
The BDI's recent peaks in 2021, 2023 and 2026 remain well below the all time peak value of 11,793 reported in May 2008.
Notes: The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) provides a benchmark for the price of moving the major raw materials by sea. It is an index of average prices paid for the transport of dry bulk materials across more than 20 routes. When these costs go down, goods producers benefit from lower shipping costs, and consumers benefit from lower prices for finished products. Higher values indicate more costly shipping, with impacts on costs for goods producers and ultimately for consumer prices. The BDI is often viewed as a leading indicator of economic activity because changes in the index reflect supply and demand for important materials used in manufacturing. The Baltic Dry Index is reported daily by the Baltic Exchange in London.
Sources: Baltic Dry Index Commodities
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