Rates for capesize dry bulk carriers on key Asian freight routes are expected to rise next week on increased Chinese demand for Australian iron ore, shipbrokers said.

In the panamax market, rates are seen mixed with the transpacific route likely to fall on limited activity, while intra-Asia rates rebound from 2011 lows.

Benchmark capesize fixture rates from Australia to China rose to a two-week high of $7.921 a tonne on Wednesday from $7.755 last week, supported by fixtures from global miner Rio Tinto.

''After a quiet week with rates dropping day by day, we finally see more activity,'' said broker firm Fearnleys.

''Rio Tinto has taken ships in the range of $7,850 to $8,000 per tonne for West Australia to China and there is clearly more support in the Pacific.''

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index on Wednesday rose 0.56 percent, or 7 points, to 1,260 from the previous session. The index is down nearly 30 percent this year.

Technicals indicated the benchmark index would fall to 1,149 after dropping below the support level of 1,277.

Rates for the Brazil-China route rose to $19.362 a tonne from $19.288 last week. The market has traded in a tight range between $19.500 and $19.250 for the last two weeks.