Shipbuilders' activity is expected to pick up on both ends, deliveries and orders.
According to the latest weekly report from Clarksons, “in Korea – there remains a number of outstanding options that are due to be declared over the forthcoming months - and this will have a bearing on how Korean appetite evolves.
With the major yards having a good level of forward coverage now, pressure to continue to book business at cost competitive levels is somewhat diminished. However, potential lapsed production intensive options may free up capacity and create opportunities - and this will be something to watch.
In China - 2013 capacity continues to remain relatively abundant. State yards will drive price in the short term, as they attempt to fill outstanding forward capacity - and we anticipate that there will be a pocket of opportunity for owners to secure competitively priced tonnage from quality facilities - The private yards continue to struggle and it seems likely that Chinese shipbuilding capacity is poised to go through a major period of consolidation - as these yards fail to secure new business and struggle to compete at required levels” said Clarksons.
Shipbroker Golden Destiny mentioned in its latest weekly report that the last two weeks we have witnessed more intense activity in the bulk carrier segment, but overall the newbuilding business remains at lower levels from the end of July. The week closed with 22 revealed orders reported worldwide at a total deadweight of 1,509,200 tons, posting a 53% week-on-week increase due to more robust bulk carrier newbuilding business with 6 fresh bulk carriers reported in contrast with 4 tanker units ordered.
This week’s total newbuilding business is up by 64% from similar week’s closing in 2010, when 14 orders had been reported with tankers being in the frontline grasping 50% share of the total ordering activity. In terms of invested capital, it is not clear which sector is again the most overweight since a large number of offshore support vessels has been reported at an undisclosed contract price, while bulk carries hold this week’s lion share, 45% of the total ordering activity.