LNG Newbuildings Take Center Stage

Demand for LNG newbuildings rose last week, with more orders being reported. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that it was a “very busy week for LNGs with the third phase of the Qatar Energy building program. The Chinese shipyard HudongZhounghua was awarded the construction of 18 of the so called QC-MAX, the largest LNG carriers ever ordered with a capacity of up to 270,000 cbm. Deliveries are expected between 2028 and 2031 and price per ship was reported around $330 mln. There were several companies involved in this project: nine units are for Nakilat followed by China Merchant Energy, Shandong Marine Energy and China LNG Shipping. In the tanker sector the positive sentiment remains focused on VLCCs due to the limited orderbook. Greek owners Pantheon Tankers signed an order for 2 units with Dalian Shipbuilding, prices around $120 mln each, deliveries in 2027. In the product tanker sector options were declared by HK based contractor New Legend Shipping Group for 2 x 50,000 MR at Huanghai shipyard and by Eastern Pacific for 4 x 50,000 MR2 at Fujian Mawei. In the drycargo sector it was a quiet week, with an order for 2 x 82,000dwt Kamsarmax at Hantong basis fairly early delivery in 2026 and an order for a single Ultramax 64,000 dwt from Kasuga Kaiun awarded to New Dayang, for delivery in q4 2026. No price emerged for both transactions”.

Meanwhile, in the S&P market, Banchero Costa added that it was a “very active week in the dry market, especially in the Capesize segment. Singapore based Owner Pioneer Logistics was reported as the buyer of the NewCastlemax duo NEWMAX and CAPE KALLIA 203,067 dwt 2012 Bohai for $38 mln each. The LOWLANDS PROSPERITY 180,000 dwt 2012 HHIC was rumoured sold to Costamare for $30.7 mln. The Chinese built HENG SHAN 174,000 dwt 2007 SWS was reported sold to Chinese buyers for a price in the high $21s mln, while the HAITI 174,000 dwt 2004 SWS was rumoured sold for $15 mln. It is worth noting that in January the sistership HIGHLAND PARK built 2006 SWS was sold in the low $15 mln. Greek owner Spring Marine was rumoured selling the CUMA 82,000 dwt 2006 Tsuneishi at $15 mln; back in February the exact sistership YASA FORTUNE was sold in the high $12s mln.

Tanker prices remained firm, starting from Aframax, the scrubber fitted CLARET PRINCE 109,000 dwt 2010 Hudong Zhonghua was reported sold to Chinese buyers at $43.5 mln, which seems to be in line with the non-scrubber fitted AFRAGOLD 112,000 dwt 2009 New Times sold for $ 41 mln in late April 2024. SONA STAR 105,000 dwt 2003 Sumitomo was reported sold at $27.5 mln to undisclosed buyers. US Owners International Seaways was rumored to have sold enbloc – to Middle Eastern buyers – a pair of MR2s for a total of $50 mln: the SEAWAYS NIAGARA and the SEAWAYS NANTUCKET both 51,000 dwt 2008 STX. After a year of absence from the secondhand market, Coral Shipping was reported as the Buyer of a 5 year old MR: STAVANGER PIOONER 50,000 dwt 2019 Hyundai Vinashin. The price was rumored in region of $48 mln, which is higher than the last done: the STAVANGER PIOONER, the latest modern MR sale was the one of the Korean built AVON 50,000 dwt 2019 blt Hyundai Mipo, sold during week 15 at $45 mln. Two modern stainless steel tankers, LNG dual fuel, the GOLD TRADER II and the GOLD TRADER III, 33,000 dwt Nantong Xiangyu built 2022 and 2023 were rumored sold enbloc for a price of $114 mln. Buyers were reported as SFL Group, to be confirmed”, the shipbroker concluded.

In a separate report this week, shipbroker Xclusiv said that “recent dry S&P activity shows a buying focus on the Kamsarmax/Panamax sectors, with nearly half of sales belonging to these categories. The Kamsarmax “Oasea” – 82K/2010 Tsuneishi Zhoushan was sold for USD 20.25 mills to Greek buyers, while Turkish buyers acquired the Panamax “Magic Vela” – 75K/2011 Penglai Jinglu for USD 16.5 mills. In the Panamax sector, buyers showed a stronger preference for older vessels, with the “Chailease Glory” – 77K/2003 Imabari changing hands for USD 11 mills basis TC attached till July- October, while the Ice Class II “AC Shanghai” – 75K/2001 Samho was sold for USD 8 mills to Chinese buyers basis DD due. On the Ultramax sector, Turkish buyers acquired the “Florentine Oetker”- 63K/2017 Imabari for USD 33 mills. Last but not least, the Handysize “Khoi” – 28K/2010 Imabari found new owners for USD 10.7 mills basis delivery 10-20 May”, the shipbroker concluded.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide