Shipbuilders Reopen or Expand to Meet Growing Demand
According to Xclusiv, “analysing the orderbook for BC, Tankers (both for vessels >= 10,000 DWT), Container and Gas, we observe that Chinese shipyards play a dominant role in newbuilding activity, accounting for 60% of the total orderbook. Breaking down the four main sectors, 67% of the BC orderbook is being constructed in China, while Tanker and Container orderbook have similar percentages at 65% and 64% accordingly. Chinese yards hold a 33% market share of the gas orderbook, placing them in second position. Of the nearly 2,000 vessels on order in China, 41.5% are BCs, while Tankers, Containers and Gas account for 27.5%, 21.1% and 9.6% respectively. Ultramaxes and Kamsarmaxes are the dominant forces in the Chinese bulker orderbook, accounting for 36% and 31% respectively. In the Chinese tanker orderbook, Aframaxes/LR2s, MR2s, and small tankers (10,000-25,000 dwt) each hold approximately 24% of the market share. Feeders dominate the container orderbook at 37%, while LNG carriers (101,000-200,000 CBM) and VLGCs together comprise 60% of the gas carrier orderbook”.
“Despite having no bulker orders, South Korean shipyards hold the second-largest market share with 20% of the total orderbook. In the Tanker and Container orderbook, South Korean shipyards hold approximately 16% and 25% respectively, whilst the Gas market dominates with a 61% share. Out of 660 vessels on order in South Korea, Gas carriers comprise 55% of the orderbook, while Tankers and Containers account for 20% and 25% respectively. MR2 and Suezmax orders dominate Korean shipyards, accounting for 48% and 28% of the orderbook respectively. On the container side, Korean shipyards are clearly preferred for very large Containers, with nearly 60% of their orders dedicated to vessels capable of carrying more than 12,000 TEU. Regarding Gas carriers, 70% of orders are for LNG carriers in the 101,000 – 200,000 CBM range, while 22% are for VLGCs”, Xclusiv said.
“Last but not least, the Japanese shipyards possess the third place with 16% of the total orderbook being currently built there. Examining the four primary sectors, 27% of the bulk carrier orderbook is being constructed in Japan. In contrast, the Tanker, Container, and Gas segments hold the smallest shares, accounting for 11%, 9%, and 6% of the orderbook of each category respectively. Currently, 520 vessels are under construction in Japan. Bulk carriers comprise 65% of this total, followed by tankers at 18%, containers at 11%, and gas carriers at 6%. Handysize and Ultramax orders dominate Japanese shipyards, accounting for 34% and 25% respectively”, the shipbroker concluded.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide