Monthly newbuilding ordering reached a two-year-low in August, with only 45 ships contracted worldwide.
Clarkson Research Services says low freight rates and overtonnaged markets kept many shipowners away from shipbuilders.
The figure also marks the worst August performance since Clarksons started reporting newbuilding contract data in the 1990s.
Year on year, newbuilding activity is down by 43% to date but in spite of plummeting newbuilding sales, prices have remained stable.
Clarkson’s Newbuilding Price Index has been stuck quite firmly around 142 for two years now.
Orderbooks are still filled for the time being, with tonnage under construction representing 28.6% of the global fleet last week.
The London-based shipbroker's research team warns, however, that prices could be driven down soon, perhaps even dipping below shipyard’s break even costs.
According to Clarksons, a large number of additional order options held by owners with contracts at South Korean shipyards are set to expire in the coming months, which could free up berth capacity and put pressure in prices as yards look for new business to fill their forward orderbooks.