INFLATIONARY trends in the shipbuilding sector have pushed new ship prices up by 25 per cent since their November 2020 low, the steepest rate of increase since 2005, according to London's Clarkson Research.
Ship prices, in nominal terms, are now at their highest level since 2009. Further increases are likely, as raw material and energy prices continue to climb, according to Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News.
Newbuilding prices vary across ship types, Clarkson noted, with container ships climbing most. A 15,500-TEU vessel now costs close to 50 per cent more than it did 15 months ago, at the beginning of 2021. Capesize bulkers are up by almost a third, MR tankers by 21 per cent, and LNG carriers by some 18 per cent.
The price of steel is one factor, with Chinese plate costing more than US$800 a tonne, up by $250 over the last 24 months. Although Clarkson expects lower contracting volumes this year due to higher prices, longer lead times, and uncertainty around future fuels, inflationary pressures on shipyard costs could yet push prices higher, the analysts said.
Many shipyards are now booking building slots for 2025 while the relatively small number of deepsea LNG shipbuilders are working on contracts for 2026. Clarkson estimates shipyard forward cover, measured in compensated gross tonnes, at 2.9 years, up from 2.4 years in November 2019.
Even without today's inflationary pressures, there is no doubt that the ships of tomorrow will cost more. That's because they will be designed with engines that can adapt to a changing bunker backdrop while many will also be fitted with energy saving technologies.
SeaNews Turkey
Ship prices, in nominal terms, are now at their highest level since 2009. Further increases are likely, as raw material and energy prices continue to climb, according to Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News.
Newbuilding prices vary across ship types, Clarkson noted, with container ships climbing most. A 15,500-TEU vessel now costs close to 50 per cent more than it did 15 months ago, at the beginning of 2021. Capesize bulkers are up by almost a third, MR tankers by 21 per cent, and LNG carriers by some 18 per cent.
The price of steel is one factor, with Chinese plate costing more than US$800 a tonne, up by $250 over the last 24 months. Although Clarkson expects lower contracting volumes this year due to higher prices, longer lead times, and uncertainty around future fuels, inflationary pressures on shipyard costs could yet push prices higher, the analysts said.
Many shipyards are now booking building slots for 2025 while the relatively small number of deepsea LNG shipbuilders are working on contracts for 2026. Clarkson estimates shipyard forward cover, measured in compensated gross tonnes, at 2.9 years, up from 2.4 years in November 2019.
Even without today's inflationary pressures, there is no doubt that the ships of tomorrow will cost more. That's because they will be designed with engines that can adapt to a changing bunker backdrop while many will also be fitted with energy saving technologies.
SeaNews Turkey
