Baltic index falls as capesize, panamax rates retreat

May 25 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell on Wednesday, as rates declined across the larger vessel segments.

* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax shipping vessels, lost 126 points, or 3.9%, to 3,127.

* The capesize index dipped 301 points, or around 7%, to 3,987 points.

* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were down $2,495 at $33,069.

* Chinese steel futures flitted in a tight range on Wednesday, as COVID-19 lockdowns continue to dampen market demand despite a raft of recent stimulus measures to prop up an ailing real-estate market and the world's second-largest economy.

* The panamax index fell 103 points, or 3.1%, to 3,218 points.

* Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, decreased $927 to $28,965.

* The supramax index rose 5 points to 2,833 points. (Reporting by Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)