Japanese export ship orders increased 21.7 percent in July from a year earlier to 1,157,150 gross tons, according to figures released Thursday by the Japan Ship Exporters' Association.
It was the slowest rate of growth in the eight consecutive months of recovery since ship orders fell for 15 months in a row during the great recession. Orders had more than doubled in April, May and June. In May, the rate of increase was more than 558 percent, compared with the lowest point in the recession.
In July, Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 27 export ships -- 25 bulk carriers and two general cargo vessels. The 27 ships total 530,793 compensated gross tons.
The gross tonnage of Japanese export ship orders in July was still 55.2 percent lower than 2,582,960 gross tons in July 2008, shortly before the global financial crisis erupted. In July 2008, Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 67 ships.
During the first four months of fiscal 2010, which started on April 1, Japanese export ship orders totaled 4,515,991 gross tons, up 111 percent from the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 97 export vessels -- 89 bulkers, six general cargo vessels and two oil tankers -- between April and July. The 97 ships total 1,962,775 compensated gross tons.
The figures for the April-July period still pale before those for the same period of 2008, when Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 194 export vessels totaling 7,890,740 gross tons.
It was the slowest rate of growth in the eight consecutive months of recovery since ship orders fell for 15 months in a row during the great recession. Orders had more than doubled in April, May and June. In May, the rate of increase was more than 558 percent, compared with the lowest point in the recession.
In July, Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 27 export ships -- 25 bulk carriers and two general cargo vessels. The 27 ships total 530,793 compensated gross tons.
The gross tonnage of Japanese export ship orders in July was still 55.2 percent lower than 2,582,960 gross tons in July 2008, shortly before the global financial crisis erupted. In July 2008, Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 67 ships.
During the first four months of fiscal 2010, which started on April 1, Japanese export ship orders totaled 4,515,991 gross tons, up 111 percent from the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 97 export vessels -- 89 bulkers, six general cargo vessels and two oil tankers -- between April and July. The 97 ships total 1,962,775 compensated gross tons.
The figures for the April-July period still pale before those for the same period of 2008, when Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 194 export vessels totaling 7,890,740 gross tons.