The Baltic Exchange's primary sea freight index, tracking rates for ships shuttling dry bulk commodities, edged lower on Thursday, as stable capesize rates offset decreases in smaller vessel rates.

* The general index, which consider rates for capesize, supramax and panamax shipping vessels, fell 8 points, or 0.44%, to 1,796.

* The capesize index was steady at 2,584.

* Average daily incomes for capesize vessels, which usually transport 150,000-ton freights of iron ore and coal, among others, increased $3 to $21,432.

* Increased domestic mining and growing renewable energy in China in the second half of 2024 might decrease steam coal imports, impacting Panamax and Supramax shipping, BIMCO's shipping expert Filipe Gouveia wrote in a note.

* China's coal shipment outlook depends on its federal government's. financial investment in the electrical energy grid and energy storage for. renewable resource transition. Successful financial investments could lead. to peak steam coal need and a decline in shipments, Gouveia. added.

* Iron ore futures fell on Thursday, following a weaker base. and rare-earth elements market, driven by a stronger U.S. dollar. which stimulated a broad risk-off belief.

* The panamax index gained 1 points, or about 0.05%,. at 1,832.

* Typical everyday earnings for panamax vessels, which. typically bring about 60,000-70,000 lots of coal or grain cargo,. increased $16 to $16,492.

* Amongst smaller sized vessels, the supramax index fell by. 26 points, or 1.90%, to 1,345.