Newbuilding Market Slowing Down | Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Newbuilding ordering activity slowed down over the past week, after a series of strong contracting. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “newbuilding activity slowed. The big player MSC increase his orderbook with 4 + 4 x 21,700 teu vessels at Zhoushan Changhong. The price reported at $220 mln apiece, delivery will take place between 2028 and 2029. MSC orderbook is currently made of 36 vessels at the yard. TMS ordered 8 x 11,400 teu dual fuel LNG vessels at a reported $140 mln each. Deliveries are expected between December 2027 and June 2030. The Greek owner Tsakos secured an order for 9 Suezmax shuttle tankers from Samsung. The vessels will be charter on long term to Transpetro (division of Petrobras). The deal was reported at $1.32 bln with deliveries expected between March 2027 and March 2030. SeaKapital Holdings ordered 2 + 2 + 2 x 20,000 cbm LNG bunkering tankers at Ningbo Xinle at $86 mln each. Deliver expected between 2027 and 2028”.

Source: Banchero Costa

Meanwhile, in the S&P market, shipbroker Xclusiv commented that “on the dry S&P activity, vintage Panamax vessels remain in demand, with five transactions involving ships aged 16 years or more. Greek buyers acquired the Conventional M/E Kamsarmax “Dream Star” – 82K/2014 Tadotsu for USD 21 mills. On the Panamax sector, the “Maria D” – 79K/2009 Sanoyas was sold for USD 11.5 mills, while the “Graecia Universalis” – 74K/2005 Namura was sold for USD 8.2 mills to Middle Eastern buyers. Moreover, the Panamax “Antigoni” – 75K/2000 Hitachi Zosen and the “Aegea”- 75K/2000 Hitachi Zosen were sold for low USD 5 mills each. On the Ultramax sector, the “Western Fuji” – 64K/2020 Xiangyu changed hands for USD 28 mills, and the “Nord Magellan” – 64K/2020 Iwagi was sold for USD 29.8 mills to Chinese buyers.

Finally, on the Handysize sector, the “Seastar Explorer” – 35K/2012 Shanhaiguan found new owners for high USD 9 mills, while the one year older “Vega Dablam”- 35K/2011 Zhejiang Yueqing changed hands for USD 9.3 mills. On the tanker S&P activity, the Suezmax “Onisilos” – 159K/2004 HHI and the “Zeno I” – 152K/2003 HHI were sold for USD 45 mills enbloc. Chinese buyers acquired the LR2 “Raffles Harmony” – 105K/2013 HHI for USD 41.9 mills. Last but not least, the MR2 “NH Siri”- 50K/2010 HMD and the “NH Erle” – 50K/2010 HMD were sold for USD 22.5 mills each with surveys due”, Xclusiv concluded.

Source: Xclusiv

Banchero Costa also said that “in the dry sector ORIENTAL DRAGON 207,000 dwt 2014 Imabari built (SS due Nov 2026, DD due) was reported sold to the Korean HMM at the price of $49.20 mln. For comparison, in Feb 2024 the sistership PACIFIC ASSURANCE 207,000 dwt 2014 Imabari built wassold at $48.5 mln. In the Capesize segment was reported the sale of FRONTIER GARLAND (SS due Jan 2029, DD due Jan 2027) 181,500 dwt 2011 Imabari built to undisclosed interests at $ 31 mln. For comparison, during Feb 2024 the sistership FRONTIER MIRAGE 181,000 dwt 2011 Imabari built wassold at $30.95 mln. Chinese interests were behind the purchase of the three Panamx sister vessel XIN DONG GUAN 1, XIN DONG GUAN 7 and XIN DONG GUAN 8 70,800 dwt 2011 Zhejiang Zhenghe built at the price of $ 9 mln. each. In the Handy segment, WESTERN FEDORA 37,400 dwt 2012 Hyundai built (SS due Jul 2027, DD due Jul 2025) was reported sold at $14.20 mln. In the tanker sector, the two Suezmax ONISILOS 159,100 dwt 2004 Hyundai built (SS due Jan 2029, DD due Apr 2027) and ZENO I 151,800 dwt 2003 Hyundai built (SS due Jun 2028, DD due Aug 2026) were reported sold en bloc to undisclosed interests at $45 mln. Chinese interests were behind the purchase of CHEMTRANS POLARIS 72,300 dwt 2005 Hudong built (SS due, DD due). She was reported sold at $12 mln. For comparison, during July 2024 the PCG COMPANION 72,800 dwt 2005 Hudong built wassold at $18 mln. The two MR sister vessel NH ERLE and NH SIRI 50,000 dwt 2010 Hyundai built were reported sold en block to undisclosed interests at $22.5 mln each. Indonesian interests were behind the purchase of PHILIPPA 8,320 dwt 2000 Asakawa built (SS and DD due May 2025) at the price of $4.80 mln.”, the shipbroker concluded.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide