Japanese Ship Orders Fall 77.1 Percent

Orders fell for fifth straight month, says the Japan Ship Exporters’ Association

Japanese export ship orders fell for the fifth straight month in September on a year-over-year basis, plunging 77.1 percent to 243,900 gross tons, according to the Japan Ship Exporters’ Association.

Japanese shipbuilders last month received orders for nine export ships, all of which are bulk carriers. The nine ships total 131,354 compensated gross tons.

Japanese export ship orders sank 55.5 percent year-over-year in the first half of fiscal 2011, which started April 1, to 3,083,402 gross tons.

Between April and September, Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 86 export ships — 80 bulk carriers, four general cargo vessels and two marine resource research vessels. The 86 ships total 1,527,748 compensated gross tons.