New Delhi:* The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, inched higher on Tuesday, propped up by a rise in panamax and supramax vessel rates.
* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up three points, or about 0.2 percent, at 1,390 points.
* The capesize index fell 23 points, or 1.1 percent, to 2,068 points.
* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, fell by $145 to $17,095.
* Meanwhile, the panamax index gained 23 points, or 1.6 percent, to 1,474 points.
* Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, increased $184 to $11,832.
* The supramax index rose six points to 1,084 points.