The second quarter of 2012 registered the largest amount of tonnage delivered, with a combined of 50.3m dwt of capacity having hit the water. It seems that a majority of shipowners have requested early deliveries in order to dodge IMO's ballast water-related regulations, which took effect in July.
According to Clarkson, a total of 104.7m-dwt vessels have entered service during the first seven months of the year.
Chinese shipbuilding industries saw monthly record in June by having delivered 11.1m dwt, which seems to have affected by owners seeking early delivery to avoid IMO Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC).
IMO PSPC mandates all newbuildings scheduled to be delivered from July 1, 2012 to apply high-value coatings on seawater ballast tanks in all types of ships.
Chinese shipyards' deliveries in July just remained at 2.4m dwt, plummeted by 78% month-on-month.
Meanwhile, from January to July, a total of 43.4m dwt hit the water from Chinese shipyards, which accounted for 41% of overall tonnages, increased by 8.2% year-on-year.
During the same period, Korean shipbuilders delivered 35.6m dwt, 6.5% more than the same period of last year, in dwt terms.
Clarkson prospected that a total of 169.4m dwt will enter service in the full year 2012, exceeding 160.5m dwt delivered in the record-high year of 2011.