Hellas-based ship owners have been ordering newbuilding vessels with an ever so increasing appetite, as evidenced by the 153% monthly increase during May, as opposed to the previous month, which also was a rather active one. According to data compiled by shipbroker Golden Destiny, May of 2013 saw the highest contracting pace by Hellenic ship owners since the beginning of 2009.
This trend was bucked by heavy investing in dry bulk carriers. According to the Golden Destiny, the total number of orders for dry bulk vessels stood at 26, a monthly increase of 1,200%. Broken down by segment there were orders for 2 handymaxes, 6 supramaxes, 4 ultamaxes, 2 panamaxes, 4 kamsarmaxes and 8 Capesizes. By comparison, Chinese ship owners ordered 10 new bulkers (2 for VLOCs, 6 in the ultramax, 2 in the handymax).
In the tanker segment there were 16 new orders from zero reported business in previous month: 6 in the MR, 7 in the aframax and 3 in the VLCC segment. (Chinese: 1 new orders for a small product chemical). Finally, in the container shipping business, Golden Destiny reported 6 new orders, a 200% monthly increase, broken as follows: 2 in the sub-panamax, 2 in the small panamax and 2 in the postpanamax (Chinese: 5 new orders in the post panamax segment).
In total, around the world, May 2013 ended with the highest tally of newbuilding orders reported since May 2011. Overall, 222 new orders are estimated to have been placed at a total deadweight of about 15mil tons and an invested capital of more than $11,8bn, for 85 orders the contract price is not revealed. In May 2011, the volume of newbuilding activity was estimated at 276 new orders, including 26 new orders from Greek and 29 from Chinese. The newbuilding activity of Chinese players during May 2011 is almost similar with the current activity as 27 new orders are recorded by Chinese, whereas Greek owners have almost doubled their position with 48 new orders.
Compared with ordering business in May 2012, outstanding increase is being noted in the container segment of 1,350% and also in the other conventional vessel segments, 152% in the container ship0, 105% in the tanker, 175% in the gas tanker and 364% in the special project segment. In the bulk carrier segment, the strong presence of Hellenic and German owners propelled the market, especially for Capesize vessels, but interest was high for many other ship classes as well, like the handysize, the supramax and ultramax ones. In total there were 73 new orders for bulk carriers worldwide, a 4% monthly increase. A total of 49 bulkers were ordered at Chinese shipyards, against just 6 in Korean ones and 10 in Japanese yards. Hot volume of activity in the capesize segment with 19 new orders from zero reported business in May 2012.
In the tanker newbuilding market, there were 43 new orders reports, a 48% monthly increase.
A total of 27 tankers were ordered with Korean yards, against 14 in China and 2 in the Japan. MR handymax size recorded 100% year-on-year increase in the volume of new orders reported, 20 from 10 in May 2012. Aframax size - 15 new orders against 4 in May 2012 stemmed mainly from Greek players (Flagship Marine Ventures, Kyklades Maritime, Consolidated Marine Management) and Scorpio Tankers of Monaco. In the gas tanker segment there were orders for 7 LPG and 4 LNG carriers, a 39% monthly decline: 8 new orders at Japanese yards, 5 for LPG carriers and 3 for LNG carriers. In May 2012, 4 LPG orders for small carriers were reported, 2 in Korea and 2 in China.
Finally, in the container ship business, the shipbroker reported 29 new orders, a 21% monthly increase-14 at Chinese and 13 at Korean yards: 21 in the post panamax segment (8,000-8,999 TEU) from zero reported business in May 2012. Strong presence from Norwegian (Clients of Sinoceanic for 10 boxships of 8,800 TEU) and Chinese players (China Shipping Container for 5 boxships of 18,000TEU).