In Hellenic Shipping News 29/04/2015
It took a while, but now it appears that some shipbuilders are beginning to adjust their price lists to the new grim reality of the dry bulk market, offering some discounts to the bold owners who will invest in today’s market conditions, especially given the reluctance from bankers to back such investments through financing. According to the latest weekly report from shipbroker Allied Shipbroking, “the recent dry spell in new contracting seems to have finally pushed the yards to the edge, dropping their price ideas in the hope that they can finally attract some buying interest”.
However, as the shipbroker noted “it might prove to be too little too late., as during the past couple of months secondhand prices have rapidly moved on a downward slope making the gap between them and any new contracting price seem excessive, especially when one considers the difficulties still faced in the freight market. The fact of the matter is that it will be all up to any further consolidation in the market that could act as a positive influence for the well performing shipbuilders, especially in the case of China, were there you have more intense competition for securing dry bulk contracts. One of the most notable deals this week was made by Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd for five firm Super Post Panamax (10,500dwt) contain-erships at S. Korea HHI for a price of US$ 104.0m with delivery be-tween 2016 and 2017″.
Meanwhile, in a separate report, Clarkson Hellas noted that there were “no new orders to report in either dry bulk or tankers, with a continued focus on the more specialised markets. In containers Hapag-Lloyd have confirmed an order for five firm high reefer 10,500TEU container carriers at Hyundai Samho with the first three vessels reported to be deliver within 2016. We’ve seen two fresh orders in the car carrier market, starting with Mitsui OSK announcing an order for four firm panamax beam 6,800 CEU PCTCs at Minami Nippon – with delivery of two vessels each in 2017 and 2018. This continues the relationship between shipyard and owner, with Mitsui OSK currently having close to 30 Minami Nippon built car carriers in their fleet according to our records. NOCC also contracted two firm plus two optional 6,500 CEU vessels at Hyundai Samho, with delivery from the end of 2016. This similarly continues the existing relationship between both shipyard and owner with NOCC currently having four Hyundai built vessels in their fleet”.
It added that there was “further ordering in LPG, with CSSC Shipping contracting two firm 85,000CBM LPG carriers at Jiangnan Changxing. Pricing is understood to be region USD 74m per vessel with delivery in the second half of 2017. Both vessels will go on charter to Tianjin Southwest when delivered”.
Shipbroker Intermodal also noted that “despite the fact that the reported newbuilding activity of the past month brought back memories of better days in the industry, the number of last week’s revealed dry bulk and tanker orders comes as a reminder that shipbuilding is still very much in the woods. Large orders remain a memory of the past, while even in the case where these pop up, as Seaspan’s recent order, these are always on the back of long T/C contracts. In regards to dry bulkers things are still very quiet, with newbuilding prices for the bigger size segments continuing to drop amidst non-existent activity. Given the recent new lows in the resale market, we expect sooner rather than later to see the Capesize price touching or even slipping below $50.0m, while should the freight market insists at current lows throughout the summer period as well, 2012 price levels might be revisited before the end of the year. In terms of recently reported deals, Italian owner, D’Amico, placed an order for two firm LR1s (75,000dwt) at Hyundai MIpo, in S. Korea, for a price of $44.0 each and delivery set in 2017″, Intermodal concluded.
However, in the S&P market, Allied said that “despite the still pessimistic approach taken by many regarding the near term prospects of the dry bulk market, activity continues firm for yet another week. At the same time there is a lot volatility still wit-nessed in the market with a number of deals reported done at strong discount levels, showing the bargain hunting nature still seen amongst most buyers. With purchases being of a perspective nature, there is a slight hint that we may well be approaching further price drops going forward. On the tanker side, product tankers are still taking a leading role, with a number of deals reported in both the medium and long range sizes. Interest is likely to remain keen for these vessels, albeit with minimal appetite for any significant premiums to be given. All this may well change if they continue to hold their earnings at such firm levels, something that will likely lead gear more speculative buys”, the shipbroker concluded.
