Clarkson Research: The total number of new shipbuilding orders in the first half of 2026 reached 133 billion US dollars, and the total number of used ship sales transactions reached 35 billion US dollars

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Clarkson studied ship asset value statistics. Currently, the total value of the global fleet and handheld orders has reached 2.5 trillion US dollars. In the first half of 2026, the total number of new shipbuilding orders reached US$133 billion, and the total number of second-hand ship transactions reached US$35 billion. Global new shipbuilding deliveries are in a period of strong growth, and new shipbuilding orders worth approximately $179 billion are expected to be delivered in 2027. The Clarkson study initially estimates that the next five years are expected to generate more than $2.2 trillion in investment requirements.

The global shipping finance market remained active in the first half of 2026. Competition among financing channels is fierce, making financing terms more attractive. Overall, shipping companies are in good capital condition, have sufficient cash reserves, and maintain a relatively prudent level of financing leverage. While this provides it with the ability to cope with potential future market fluctuations, it has also reduced its overall financing needs, and many shipping companies choose to repay their existing debts early.

Global shipping financing channels

European banks are still the largest source of funding for ship financing, although their market share in the global financing market has declined markedly. In recent years, the number and scale of banks involved in ship financing have rebounded, particularly regional banks and Asian banks. At the same time, financing options represented by Chinese leasing companies and export credit agencies continued to develop, and shipping financing sources were further diversified.

Chinese leasing companies have become important players in the global shipping finance market. Despite facing certain challenges in 2025, the overall market remains active. Over the past year, Clarkson research has continued to record new leasing agencies entering the shipping finance market. In addition to this, daily tax leases are still an active and attractive financing option.

Cooperation projects concluded between the US, South Korea, and Japan have created more opportunities for export credits for the countries concerned. The Norwegian bond market is still an important financing channel favored by many shipping and offshore companies.

Global shipping finance outlook

Supported by solid fundamentals of the shipping industry and sufficient market liquidity, Clarkson Research predicts that the short-term shipping finance market will remain a “borrower's market.” Financial institutions continue to compete fiercely for “top” high-quality customers, further supporting favorable financing conditions for shipowners.

According to Clarkson research, traditional banks, including members of the Poseidon Code, can often provide the most competitive financing terms to “leading” customers. Financing costs for some “leading” premium customers have dropped to 100-150 basis points higher in SOFR, close to the level of the early 2000s. Other shipping finance banks are more flexible in terms of shipowner qualifications, asset age, ship types, and financing plans, but corresponding financing costs are also higher, and interest rate increases usually exceed 400 basis points.

The loan value ratio (LTV) of ship financing has increased in recent years, and considering that most ship segment asset prices are already high. Judging from the cyclical nature of the industry, financing institutions need to take a cautious approach in project review, due diligence on shipowner qualifications, and ship value evaluation.