Global shipowners are struggling over weak profitabilities, however, demand for newbuilding commercial ship is gradually increasing.
Analyst Park Mu-Hyun of E*Trade Securities of Korea said that following after Taiwanese owner Evergreen's newbuilding/chartering project for 13,800-teu boxships, Yang Ming of Taiwan and Chilean owner CSAV, etc., are also planning to invest in newbuilding mega containerships.
Also, he said that Arcadia, Shell, etc., are in talks for ordering MR product carriers, with quite a number of undisclosed owners also having a meeting in regard of newbuilding commercial ships.
He pointed out that even though rates are expected to drop further on the basis of current shipping market and shipowners are still having difficulties with low profits, shipowners keep looking into newbuilding investment.
He explained that demand for up-grade vessels have caused growing interests in new order, rather than speculative intention, saying "Demand for fuel-efficient eco-friendly vessel, which is capable of reducing fuel consumption and increasing tonnages at the same speed, takes the largest proportion."
At the moment of depressed shipping market, speculative order is unlikely to occur.