Chinese shipbuilders will wins the lion’s share of fresh newbuilding orders in the second half of this year, Clarksons says.
South Korean yards claimed pride of place in the first six months of the 2011 by winning orders worth $31.4bn, more than three times China's $8.8bn.
Presently the newbuilding market is subdued, but the balance of power could be about to change, the world’s largest shipbroker believes.
Clarksons said: “It will arguably be the Chinese shipyards that come into their own in the latter part of the year.”
It explained: “On the one hand, state owned Chinese yards will have an obligation to maintain production and sustain employment.
“Productivity may therefore prove to be more critical than profitability and in turn this may translate into competitively priced opportunities for speculators.”
“Conversely, it may be that yards can find domestic owners with a positive view of future Chinese cargo demand who are willing to commit to firmer priced vessels.
“If this is the case, yards may be able to offset the tendency of other owners to squeeze yards’ margins.”