Despite the charter market continuing to support only modest returns, the newbuilding market has maintained strength on the back of historically low pricing levels, according to a report by Clarkson Hellas S+P.
The report focused on recent Ultramax and Handysize orders. Some of the most recent new orders are: d’Amico Ireland Ltd has placed an order for four firm 64,000 DWT Ultramax at Yangfan, with delivery of all vessels in 2016 and pricing in the region USD 25 Mill. Also in China, FrontMarine have placed an order for four firm 58,500 DWT Supramax at New Times. Pricing for these vessels is understood to be in the high USD 25 Mill, with delivery in 2015. At Tsuneishi’s Cebu facility in the Philippines, it was reported that Uni-Asia Shipping have contracted two firm 58,000 DWT Supramax. Although pricing for this deal was undisclosed, delivery of both vessel is understood to be due in 2015. In the Handysize market, Transglory Shipping are reported to have recently placed an order for two firm plus two option 39,000 DWT bulk carriers at Kouan S.B, with delivery in 2015. In addition to their order at Yangfan for Ultramax, d’Amico to have declared options for the 8th and 9th in a series of 39,500 DWT Handysize, both for delivery in 2015.
August has seen further ordering in the VLCC market. Global Energy Maritime reportedly has placed an order for two plus one option 318,000 DWT tankers at JMU. Pricing is understood to be in the region of $93 million per vessel with delivery of the vessels in 2016 and options in 2017 if declared.
At the opposite end of the sizes, Clarkson S+P understands that Weihai Samjin have taken an order for three firm plus one option 5,800 DWT Chemical / Product tankers from Korean buyer Techmarine.
With China increasingly featuring in the container newbuilding market, in late August we have seen SWS group taking orders for three firm 16,000 TEU container carriers from CSSC Shipping, understood for charter to CMA-CGM. With pricing undisclosed, delivery of all three vessels is understood to be in the second half of 2015.
Gas carriers
Clarkson added that in the gas market, GasLog have announced that they have declared options for the third and fourth in a series of 174,000 CBM LNG carriers at Samsung Heavy Industries. With this order which now includes a total of up to eight further options, delivery of the most recent orders is due for the second half of 2015. Similarly to both the tanker and container market, there has been an additional order in the smaller sizes with Brave Maritime having placed an order for four firm 3,500 CBM LPG carriers at Kitanihon, with delivery of all four firm vessels due in 2015.
