It emerged that a total of global shipyard output from January to July, 2017, stood at 1,003 vessels of a combined 68.60m dwt (22.60m cgt). In July only, particularly, 105 vessels of a combined 8.20m dwt reported delivered throughout the world, continuing a steady trend. It is also expected that shipyard deliveries will reach 101.20m dwt in full year 2017, up by 1% from 100.50m dwt posted in 2016.

For the first seven months this year, according to Clarkson Research, 260 vessels of a combined 25.80m dwt were delivered, representing a 39% increase year-on-year (in dwt terms). As for Suezmax sector, in particular, 39 units of a combined 6.10m dwt were delivered, almost four times the volume of tonnage delivered during the same period of 2016.

Global shipyards also delivered 355 bulkers of 30.00m dwt during the same period. This year's bulker deliveries are forecasted to show a 10% decline against a year ago, with 42.40m dwt.  

As for containership sector, 87 vessels of 7.20m dwt reported completed, with annual deliveries of vessels less than 3,000 teu, 3,000~7,999 teu and less than 8,000 teu expected to increase by 35%, 290% and 16% y-o-y, respectively.  

Regarding the volume of delivery of gas carriers, during the cited period, LNG carrier recorded delivery of 1.60M dwt (22 vessels) and LPG carrier, 1.70m dwt (56 vessels). The annual deliveries are expected to increase by 7% and decrease 30%, respectively, this year.

Meanwhile, by shipbuilding nation, shipyards in China delivered 403 newbuildings, 27.90m dwt, or 8.00m cgt, from January to July in 2017, with total amount of $14.9bn. China was ranked No.1 in dwt, cgt and numerical terms.

Notable is the fact that Chinese yards took the lion's share of the world's newbuilding deliveries with around 41% (in dwt terms), up from a 35.9% share in full year 2016.

During the same period, Korea delivered 199 newbuildings, 22.00m dwt, and 7.30m cgt, making it worth about $19.1bn and ranked No.1 in value terms. This total accounts for 32% (36.3% in full year 2016) of global deliveries in dwt terms.

Japan delivered 248 vessels, 4.60m cgt, or 14.10m dwt, worth about $8.6bn, accounting for about 21% (21.8% in full year 2016) of global deliveries in dwt terms.

In full year 2017, Chinese deliveries are projected to post a 14% increase against a year ago, with Korean, a 16% decline, and Japanese, a 1% decline.

Meanwhile, during the first seven months of this year, 463 vessels of 18.90m dwt (the average age=26.6) were sold for demolition, down by 27% year-on-year (in dwt terms). This year's annual scrapping is expected to reach 33.10m dwt, down by about 25.6% compared to 44.50m dwt seen the previous year.