As global contracting activity has been stagnant in the first half of 2012 by depressed shipping market and Eurozone Crisis, etc., only a total of 485 vessels (20.9m dwt, 8.8m cgt) were contracted, down by 46% in deadweight terms, on an annualized basis.
According to Clarkson Research, during the first six months of the year, an estimated $30.3bn was invested (Offshore sector: $15.7bn invested). On an annualized basis this represents a 41% year-on-year decline in the total amount invested in new vessels compared to 2011 with $102.4bn and 78% decline against $270.7bn in 2007. But a total of newbuilding investment for 2012 is expected to be larger than $41.3bn invested in 2009, when faced the worst new order drought.
As for contracting in H1 by vessel type, 147 vessels/units (1.4m dwt and 1.5m cgt), totalling $15.7bn were contracted in offshore sector, including drillship, FPSO, offshore supply vessel, etc., which slightly fell on the same period last year.
The containership sector saw only overall 38 orders, totalling $900m, during the same period. Of them, there was no contract for over 8,000-teu, while 16 3,000-8,000 teu orders and 12 less than 3,000 teu were contracted.
In case of bulker, a total of 144 vessels (9.8m dwt, 2.5m cgt), $3.9bn were invested, down by 49% year-on-year in dwt terms. 47 handysizes (10,000-40,000 dwt) were contracted, while 34 60-80,000 dwt, 26 80-100,000 dwt, 25 40-60,000 dwt and 12 capeszies (over 100,000) were newly ordered.
A total of 66 tankers (5.9m dwt, 1.4m cgt), $3.2bn were contracted, up by 15% year-on-year in terms of dwt. Regarding sizes, 30,000-60,000 dwt product carrier took the most of orders with 47 vessels contracted, followed by seven VLCCs, seven aframaxes and three suezmaxes, etc.
In the first half, LNG carrier saw overall 18 orders, in total of $3.3bn, down by 27% on an annualized basis, comparing with 52 vessels contracted in the whole 2011. But, in case of LPG carrier, 31 vessels totalling $1.2bn were contracted, which already exceeds 23 vessels contracted in 2011. Just two cruiseships, amounting $1.4bn were contracted, sharply reduced from 10 orders seen last year.