June 2015 has been a very brisk month for Japanese shipyards that received 98 export orders totalling in 4,671,040 G/T, against 91 export orders totalling 3,392,460 G/T in the same period in 2014, according to data from Japan Ship Exporters’ Association (JSEA).
June figures provided considerable increase as numbers in April and May 2015 did not look so positive with only 39 orders received in total.
Bulk carriers were in demand the most according to JSEA, with 56 bulkers ordered in June, namely, 7 handysizes, 24 handymaxes, 9 panamaxes, 7 post-panamaxes, 7 capesizes and 2 ore carriers.
Tankers were next most ordered at the yards with 36 ordered in June, including 20 product tankers, 12 aframaxes, one LPG and one LNG carrier, followed by 6 general cargo ships with two container ships and four pure car carriers (PCCs).
The shopping spree comes ahead of the new international maritime standards set to enter into force in 2016 concerning construction of bulkers and tankers which will herald modifications in construction of the ships’ cargo holds targeting their strengthening.
The overall order book of JSEA members for the 2015 fiscal year stands at 137 orders, which equals to 7,510,238 G/T.
Figures on owners placing orders with Japanese shipyards from April to June 2015 indicate that 68.7 % of orders are placed by Japanese related owners 13,3 % by European and American shipping companies.
Japanese shipbuilders came second in the global overview of shipbuilding orders for the first six months of 2015, surpassing Chinese builders. The first place was taken by South Korean builders with new orders totalling 5.92 CGTs.
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