Second-Hand Market More Active than Newbuilding

The Panamax and 2,500TEU sectors continued to be the two areas that sparked the most interest and the highest volume of ships changing hands in the second-hand market last week.

According to Braemar ACM Shipbroking, the ships that are being sold at the moment have been on the market for some time, and there has been a serious decline in the number of fresh ships coming to market.

Activity in the SnP market slowed down a bit last week, although dry bulker and tanker deals still reveal healthy signs of buying appetite, while the revival of the product sector is still evident in the number of MR deals being reported, Intermodal’s Research and Valuation said.

With regard to tankers, Intermodal reported the en-bloc sale of the SUNGDONG 3075, SUNGDONG 3076, SUNGDONG 3077, and SUNGDONG 3086 ( all 50,000dwt-blt 15, S. Korea), which were picked up by Maersk tankers, for a price of USD 34.75m each.

On the dry bulker side, the MULBERRY WILTON (76,453dwt-blt 04, S. Korea) was sold to Greek buyers for USD 14.75m.

Activity in the newbuilding tanker market remains slow and prices are expected to remain at the current levels by the end of the year.

As informed by Intermodal, big players in the likes of Mr. Fredriksen are being lured back to the yards.

“The Norwegian owner, is rumoured to have signed an LOI, for two firm plus one optional VLCC, at JMU, in Japan, at USD 96.5 m each. The owner was also rumoured to have placed an order for four firm plus four optional Suezmaxes back in October of this year,”  the shipbroker said.

In terms of recently reported deals, Taiwanese owner, Wisdom Marine Lines has placed an order for two firm Kamsarmaxes (80,000dwt) at JMU, in Japan, for a price in the region of USD 33.0m and delivery set in the last quarter of 2016, Intermodal’s weekly market review reads.

World Maritime News Staff