While a total of $80.8bn (21% decrease year-on-year) worth of newbuildings were contracted in 2012, Norwegian shipowners turned out to have made the biggest investment.
According to Clarkson, as for the ranking of total investment by country, Norway was ranked in the first place and the second and third place were taken by America and Brazil, followed by Greece, China, Japan and Malaysia, in order.
The total amount of newbuildings contracted by European shipowners in 2012 was $35.2bn which saw 17% drop year-on-year. Of this, Norwegian shipowners invested in $17.4bn in total, increased by 84% compared to the previous year, while Greek and German shipowners invested in only $6.3bn and $1.7bn, respectively, each showing 53% and 55% decrease. Besides, British shipowners invested in $2.5bn, Russian $1.8bn and Italian $1.7bn.
The shipowners in America invested in a total of $26.7bn in newbuildings, showing 9% drop year-on-year. Brazilian shipowners saw 64% increase, investing $10bn, when those in the US invested $11.8bn with 30% fall.    
In terms of shipowners in Asia, they are reported to place $16.8bn worth of orders, showing 37% drop. Of all, it is said that China saw 28% decrease with $4.3bn, Japan declined by 14% to $4.1bn and Korea had 57% drop with $1.3bn, while Malaysia is reported to have 24% increase with $3.2bn worth of investment.
Meanwhile, shipowners in Middle East regions, they invested $2.1bn last year showing 41% drop. Israel placed $800m worth of order with 69% fall while Kuwait and UAE booked orders worth $700m and $200m, respectively.