Rosier outlook for the future of the shipping markets has prompted a series of renewed newbuilding ordering activity, with dry bulk carriers leading the foray. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Allied Shipbroking said that "for a second week in a row, we see a healthy volume in terms of ordering, confirming in a way the expressed anticipation early on in the year for a strong newbuilding market for the later part of this year. In the dry bulk sector, even if activity has considerably slowed down compared to previous weeks, we have seen another modest flow of new orders emerging this week, with the uptrend in momentum and the positive outlook coming from the freight market helping feed the market with more and more buying interest. On the other hand, for the tanker sector things remain pretty uncertain, with a mixed sentiment among the interested parties, keeping new ordering activity to a minimum. Having seen some notable movement this past week, we have yet to identify how things will be effected once we start to see a strong rise in quoted prices, or will an over confident shipbuilding industry hamper the positive momentum being noted with a too sudden rise in prices. As things stand down, with a further boost being seen from the financing aspect of things, there is an overall anticipate of the volume of new orders placed to continue strong", Allied said.

In a separate newbuilding report, shipbroker Clarkson Platou Hellas said that there were "a couple of orders to report in the newbuilding market this week. In Dry, Jiangsu New YZJ have won an order for two firm plus two optional 180,000 DWT Capesize Bulk Carriers from Mosvold Shipping. The two firm units are set for delivery within 2019. In Gas, Vitol have extended their series of 84,000 CBM VLGCs at Hyundai Heavy Industries by declaring an option for two more vessels. Being delivered in 2Q and 3Q 2019, the duo will be the 3rd and the 4th vessels in the series".

Meanwhile, in the second sales market, Allied noted that "on the dry bulk side, a fair amount of activity was reflective of the still ample buying interest seen in the market. Prices seemed to have momentarily plateaued , as most see the current price levels as a touch high given the overall freight market conditions noted. If the positive momentum however continues over the next couple of months in terms of earnings, it shouldn't be long before intense competition amongst buyers starts to mount once more, further driving asset prices up relatively quick. On the tanker side, activity continues to remain limited with a very limited number of units changing hands. We were able to see another VLCC change hands this week, with prices still remaining under pressure and having started to entice some buyers who are looking to grab any bargain opportunities that emerge. There is still however a sense amongst buyers that prices still have further drops to show", the shipbroker concluded.

In a separate note, ships' valuations expert VesselsValue said that in the tanker market, "values have remained stable this week with very few sales. VLCC Fujikawa (300,000 DWT, Apr 2004, Universal) sold for USD 27.2 mil to Dynacom Tankers with DD freshly passed, VV value USD 26.75 million". In the dry bulk segment, VV noted that "values have firmed for Capesize and Handysize vessels. Choully (182,000 DWT, Apr 2016, Japan Maritime United) sold for USD 44.8 mil, VV value USD 42.5 mil. Guan Hai 228 (80,000 DWT, Jun 2012, Fujian Guanhai) sold for USD 15.1 mil, VV value USD 15.3 mil. Neptune Pioneer (56,000 DWT, Apr 2007, Mitsui Tamano) sold for USD 12.5 mil, VV value USD 12.6 million". Finally, in the container market, VV said that values have remained stable in smaller tonnage. MPC Containers have bought the Tiger Goman (1,338 TEU, Dec 2007, Jiangsu Yangzijiang) and HS Liszt (1,350 TEU, Mar 2008, Jiangsu Yangzijiang) for USD 7 mil each both SS Due, VV value USD 7.38 mil and USD 7.65 mil respectively", it concluded.