As global newbuilding commercial ship market seems to be active early 2013, it is said that newbuilding orders contracted in the first quarter of 2013 has exceeded fleet demand in shipping market by 40%.  
According to RS Platou Markets of Norway, newbuildings of a combined 30.8m dwt were ordered during a period from January to March, which is close to global delivery of around 35m dwt.  
Platou said that new ordering intake has historically been closely related to freight rates and new building orders contracted in the first quarter of this year are reportedly 40% more than Platou’s estimated order intake model given the current freight rates.”
It also said that Heavy-Tail back-loaded payments, depreciation of yen, new Eco-Ship design development and etc., have contributed to the increased new order intake.
Meanwhile, industrial brokers say that at least 25 newbuilding capesize bulkers are close to be ordered within a month. Since most of yards in China, Japan and Korea have already filled up bulker slots until 2015 that shipowners planning to place orders for bulkers need to accept the delivery as late as 2016.
A total of 42 bulkers are reported to be firmed up in the first quarter of 2013 and newbuilding prices are said to have increased by $2m this year, according to Platou.