The extraordinary appetite for Japanese-built supramax tonnage seen this year has already seen prices jump by around a fifth.
According to brokers Intermodal, depending on the condition of the vessel and its respective surveys position, the appreciation in Japanese supramax vessels since the beginning of the year is calculated at around 20%.
Since the start of the year Intermodal has tallied around 230 secondhand sales in the dry bulk sector, , while newbuilding contracting has also seen steady numbers.
Out of those 230 bulkers that changed hands during the past months, 100 where built in China. Most of the buying interest focused on handysize up to ultramax tonnage, with this deadweight range counting 160 sales.
Intermodal said in its latest weekly report that it is anticipating this bulker buying binge to continue throughout the summer.
Last year was an all time record for the S&P markets, led again by dry bulk acquisitions.
