A total of 821 vessels of a cumulative 16.76m gt were contracted in the world, during the first six months of 2012, which declined by 47% year-on-year, in GT terms.
According to IHS, the first quarter saw 9.9m gt orders contracted while Q2 slightly declined to 6.9m gt. 
During H1, Korean shipbuilders inked overall 108 vessels of a combined 5.78m gt, plummeted by 70% year-on-year Chinese booked 217 vessels of a cumulative 4.98m gt, dropped by 80%. On the other hand, Japanese bagged 169 vessels of a combined 4.27m gt, 10% more from the same period of 2011.
A total of 2,037 vessels of a cumulative 60.59m gt were delivered in the world during the first half of the year, grew by 13% year-on-year.
As of the end of June, global newbuilding orderbook stood at 6,210 vessels of a combined 185.9m gt, first stayed below 200m gt over the past six years.
During the first half, Chinese shipbuilders constructed 883 vessels of a cumulative 24.53m gt, 20% more than those built during the same period of 2011. Korean and Japanese each completed construction of 300 vessels of a combined 20.91m gt and 338 vessels of a cumulative 10.95m gt.
Also, a total of 97 vessels of a combined 2.59m gt were cancelled during H1, 2012.