Domestic coastal dry shipping freight rates have declined slightly in the period due to the long Spring Festival due, so as the inquiries for secondhand bulkers.
Small tonnage bulkers of 5,000dwt to 15,000dwt are still the popular type in the market. Buyers from Fujian, Jiangsu and some northern areas are looking for 5,000dwt bulkers built after 2009 of low prices. The comparatively better freight rates for 10,000dwt bulker and positive expectations for 2013 shipping market has attracted many buyers to the ship type, whose inquiries has kept active. The demand for 20,000dwt secondhand bulkers has been plain in the period. A buyer from Jiangsu is looking for 17,000dwt to 28,000dwt bulker for domestic services and another owner hopes to buy 50,000dwt bulker for international routes.
In the period, a nine-year 5,100dwt ZC-classed bulker was trade at a rumored price of CNY5.0m. Besides, a 11-year 5,200dwt unit of ZC classification was changed hand at about CNY4.5m.
The ship price indices for different secondhand bulkers has all see declines despite active inquiries and dropping ship price. The overall economic environment and capacity oversupply has make the recovery of the market less foreseeable.
The price and price index for inland cargo ships have increased driven by active transactions and growing cargo demand.
Secondhand tanker transactions have been weak in the period with the high expectation to raise product oil price and weak shipping demand. Buyers’ interests in 1,000dwt Class 3 tankers with heating equipments are still strong, especially those of double bottoms and double hulls as well as double main engines. Inquiries for 2,000dwt to 3,000dwt tankers are relatively weak for most of these vessels are of single hull. Current quotation for 4,000dwt to 5,000dwt units are averagely over CNY30.0m which is acceptable to some buyers, however available vessels are very rare in the market.
A new-built 10,000dwt product oil tanker were sold at a price about CNY55.0m in the period. Besides, a four-year and an eight-year 1,000dwt Class 3 oil tanker were traded with no information about the prices was disclosed.
There are buyers looing for 25,000dwt MPV. The inquiries for secondhand containerships keep the low tone in the period.
The demand for tugs are still plain. Some domestic owner are interested in low-price hopper barge or open barge for port projects.