Freight derivatives rely on indices which accurately reflect the risk being swapped. Any
index can be used provided both parties agree, but there is a strong case for using indices
developed by an independent
party which are demonstrably
representative of
the freight being hedged
and which cannot be
manipulated. This service
is provided by the Baltic
Exchange in London. In
1985 the Baltic Exchange
started to compile the
Baltic Freight Index (BFI)
shown in Figure 5.7. This
index was designed as a
settlement index based on a
weighted average of 11 different
trade routes (grain
(four routes), coal (three
routes), iron ore, and trip
charter (three routes)) collected
daily from a panel of
brokers.