Shipbuilding contracts worth $13 billion have been signed in the last two weeks with interest focusing on the containership and dry cargo sectors, with 36 and 58 ships ordered respectively. Meanwhile, there were deals to build one cruise ship, two multipurpose vessels, two offshore, 10 gas carriers, and 14 tankers.

In the container ship sector, China’s Cosco has confirmed an order for 12 neo-panamax, dual-fuel methanol-fuelled vessels priced at $179.5 million each. Mediterranean Shipping Co has contracts with three social yards to build 30 LNG-fueled container ships.

In the dry cargo sector, Cosco Shipping Development confirmed that it had signed a construction and leasing agreement for 42 bulk carriers, all of which will be built by sister company Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry and Chengxi Shipyard. Other major bulk carrier orders booked in the past two weeks include two Newcastlemax units commissioned by Taiwan’s Chinese Maritime Transport.