I’m proud of the way in which the Baltic Exchange community has risen to the challenge of Covid-19. Overnight, chartering and trading desks have relocated to spare bedrooms and kitchen tables. Ships continue to be fixed, indices published and FFAs traded. The world, which relies on ships transporting energy, food and medicines, has not stopped moving.

The challenge is to continue our businesses this way for an unknown period of time. As a regulated benchmark administrator, the Baltic, and our panellists, have business continuity plans to ensure regular index reporting. Thanks to the internet, robust systems and processes, the Baltic has been able to continue to provide accurate and timely data.

I would like to thank everyone, from staff in London and Singapore to our worldwide network of panellists, for their professionalism and dedication in this unprecedented crisis.

Mark Jackson
Chief Executive