Baltic Dry Index

The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) is an economic indicator that tracks the costs of shipping bulk goods, like coal, grain, and iron ore, across the world's oceans. It measures the demand for shipping capacity against the supply of vessels. A rising BDI usually reflects increased global trade activity and demand for raw materials, while a falling BDI can indicate decreased economic activity. Essentially, the BDI provides insights into the health of the shipping industry and, by extension, broader economic trends. It's an important tool for investors and economists to gauge market conditions.