Japan's shipbuilding slows in 2011
Newbuilding deliveries from Japanese shipyards posted a drop in 2011 both in gross tonnage and value terms, according to Japan's ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, Seatrade Asia online reports.
Last year's newbuilding delivery registered 575 vessels of over 100 gross tonnes representing a cumulative 19.06m gross tonnes, down 3% year-on-year. Out of the total, delivery of large ships over 10,000 gross tonnes stood at 18.57m gross tonnes, also down 3%.
The total amount of newbuilding value of those delivered last year was JPY2.15trn ($27.1bn), a 12% decrease from 2010.
Meanwhile, the ship repair market has also weakened. Last year's performance recorded 17,588 vessels on a value of JPY112.6bn, a 3% and 4% decline respectively from the previous year.