Baltic Exchange welcomed students from the MSc Maritime Policy and Shipping Management programme at Cardiff Business School, part of Cardiff University, for an educational visit focused on the role of freight markets and maritime data in global trade.

The group was hosted by Oliver Hale, Associate Director, and Mark Hubbard, Head of Business Development EMEA, who provided an overview of Baltic Exchange’s long history and its continued importance as a trusted source of market information. The presentation traced the Baltic's history back to 1744 and highlighted how it has evolved into a key hub for price discovery and benchmarking in global shipping.

Students were given an in-depth explanation of how freight rate assessments are collected from a panel of market participants and then published. The session also covered the range of derivatives and freight-related contracts that are used in modern shipping markets, as well as the Baltic’s wider data services spanning multiple different sectors.

Beyond market data, the presentation highlighted the Baltic's member services and the social events and activities.

A key part of the visit focused on how freight rate assessments respond during periods of heightened volatility. Topics included the impact of geopolitical disruption on pricing, and how benchmark indices continue to reflect rapid changes in global trade conditions.

The visit forms part of a broader programme with education institutions. Each year, the Baltic hosts a number of academic groups, typically around six per year, from leading universities and maritime training programmes worldwide. These include institutions such as City, University of London, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Piraeus, Singapore Management University, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, amongst others.

These sessions are designed to give students direct exposure to the shipping industry, while also helping to break down the Baltic Exchange’s role in freight assessment and market transparency. 

Reflecting on the visit, Mark Hubbard said:

“These are marvellous opportunities to present to those starting out in their careers a little of our history, from our beginnings in 1744, through to the strategic and economic importance of our indices today, along with the ancillary functions that support our members in their day-to-day activities.”

The Cardiff Business School visit reflects the Baltic’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals. By opening its doors to students from leading institutions worldwide, the Baltic Exchange plays an active role in bridging academic study with industry practice.