Japanese exporters processed 15 ship orders totaling 1.7mn gt (1.8mn mt) in April 2021, about 7.8 times or 680pc more than the tonnage in orders placed in April 2020, according to Japan’s Ship Exporter’s Association (JSEA). The order level in April 2021 is 2.3 times the tonnage level placed in April 2019, although it included 14 ship orders then. The tonnage is 14.5pc higher in April 2021 compared to March.
Per tonnage, 38.9pc of the tonnage is due in FY2022 while the remaining 61.1pc is due on FY2023 with 100pc paid in cash.
In April 2020, the five orders for ships included a container, a handysize bulk, a panamax bulk, a capsize bulk, and a chip carrier. Ships in April 2021 include six container ships, three handysize, and two of the remaining classes.