Global newbuilding market in the first quarter of 2013 is reported to have shown a small improvement compared to the same period last year when the market experienced a continued recession.
According to Clarkson, new order intakes of global shipbuilding industry during the first quarter this year were calculated at 286 vessels of a combined 6.6m cgt which represents a 14% increase against 330 vessels of 5.8m cgt in the first quarter of 2012.
In the first quarter in 2013, Korean shipbuilding industry won 75 vessels of a combined 2.56m cgt worth $5.678bn. Korean builders inked 22% more new orders compared to 63 vessels of 2.09m cgt year-on-year, however, earned 32% less than $8.323bn during the same period last year. It seems that declining newbuilding prices, up until last year, has affected in contracting activity.
However, as Clarkson newbuilding price index has stayed at around 126-127 points since the second half last year and shipbuilders around the world have declared that it is practically impossible to win new orders for low prices; thus, there are hopes and expectations that ship prices could bounce back within this year.
Recently, many shipowners and industry professionals are expecting ship prices to show an increasing move from now on after hitting the bottom that shipowners are taking a step to invest in new eco-friendly and high-efficient vessels for competitive prices.
In the first quarter in 2013, Chinese shipbuilding industry won 127 vessels of a combined 2.53m cgt worth $4.1205bn, which shows a 79% growth compared to 105 vessels of 1.41m cgt of the same time period last year.  
Meanwhile, new orders in global shipbuilding industry in March were reported to be a combined 2.49m cgt, up by around 30% from 1.93m cgt of February and more than January’s 2.1m cgt, marking the largest monthly new order record year-to-date.
As for new order intakes of Korean shipbuilding industry in March were a total of 1.09m cgt, having greatly outpaced China with 680,000 cgt.
Korea’s major new projects won in March were as follows; ▲Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, ten MR PCs, two 37,000-dwt PCs, four 7,500 ceu PCTCs ▲Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, six LR2 PCs ▲Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, two LR2 PCs ▲STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, four MR PCs ▲Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, seven 180,000-dwt bulkers ▲Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, four 6,800 teu containerships ▲Hyundai Heavy Industries, two VLGCs and etc.
As for major new orders placed at Chinese shipyards during the last month, they are as follows; ▲Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC), eight 3,900 teu containerships ▲Chengxi Shipyard, one 65,000-dwt bulker, four 39,000-dwt bulkers ▲BESTWAY / COSCO Shipyard, one 28,000-dwt LNG carrier ▲Yangfan Group, four 2,200 teu containerships ▲Fujian Southeast Shipyard, two platform supply vessels (PSV) ▲Wuhu Xinlian Shipbuilding, two diving support vessels (DSV) and so on.