While global newbuilding contracts penned year-to-date have already showed 53% up in dwt terms from last year, cargo sectors and offshore sector are experiencing contrasting newbuilding activities in this year so far against last year’s performance.

Clarkson Research survey said that 1,307 contracts were placed in this year to the third quarter and cargo sectors including containerships, bulkers and tankers saw 882 new orders penned, up by 32% from full year 2012.

In addition, the three cargo sectors accounted for 72% of total contracts (in cgt), showing a sharp increase from last year’s 53% level.

Meanwhile, Offshore and specialized contracts fell from 47% in 2012 to 28% this year so far, experiencing a contrasting trend.

Particularly, in this year to date, bulker sector orders have already exceeded last year’s record by 34%, continuing a favorable activity. A notable contrast with last year was seen in Kamsarmax sector which experienced an obvious decline in new orders, however Capesize sector had large orders and Handymax held a 37% share of bulker orders.

Containership sector has also seen doubled contracts compared to 2012 and tanker sector has been focused on products tanker orders.

On the other hand, Offshore sector orders inked year-to-date are 56% down from last year when a historic high was posted in the sector. Although showing a different new order trend from commercial ship sector, the offshore sector has positive sentiment that the gap between ordering levels in 2012 and this year will be narrowed for the remaining months of the year, Clarkson said.

With recognition of ship value hitting the bottom this year, shipowners have contracted option deals for low prices (fixed value) that a large number of options are expected to be confirmed soon, thus 2013 performance outcome seems to be much better than what was forecasted in 2012.