Japanese yards' newbuilding export ship contract in the first three months this year stood at 45 vessels of a cumulative 2.17m gt (0.93m cgt), down by 29% year-on-year, reported the Japan Ship Exporter’s Association (JSEA) on April 17. 
Japanese shipbuilding industry is struggling to win new orders from strong yen and lack of demand. In 2011, Japan's overall newbuilding export ship recorded 218 vessels of a cumulative 8.96m gt, below 10m gt for the first time in recent two years.
Troubled record is still no different this year. 2.17m-gt new order for export ship is similar to that from the same period last year.
Meanwhile, of those contracted in Q1, yen denominated orders remained 17%, while foreign exchanges-denominated at 71%, in terms of gross tonnage.

During March only, 21 vessels of a cumulative 1.12m gt have been contracted - one car carrier, 16 bulkers (three handys, six handymaxes, four panamaxes, one post-panamax, one capesize and one ore carrier), two VLCCs and two product carriers.
In terms of delivery, FY 2012 accounted for 1.2%, while FY 2013 of 44.6% and FY 2014 of 54.2%.
As of the end of March, orderbook for export newbuildings stood at 771 vessels of a cumulative 35.01m gt (15.47m cgt), down by 9.56m gt year-on-year.
In delivery terms, 398 vessels of a cumulative 18.03m gt by 2012, 249 vessels of 11.33m gt by 2013, 113 vessels of 5.14m gt by 2014 and 11 vessels of 0.51m gt by 2015.