According to the data released by the Japan Ship Exporters' Association (JSEA), Japanese new ship export orders in April this year decreased by 21.72 percent on tonnage basis compared to March, amounting to 29 ships, down from 47 ships recorded in March, totaling 1.48 million gross tons, consisting of six tankers, 18 bulk carriers and five general cargos. In April 2013, Japan's new ship export orders had totaled 35 ships amounting to 1.26 million gross tons.
In the first four months of the current year, Japanese shipbuilders received new export orders for a total of 149 ships with an aggregate of 6.77 million gross tons, increasing by 44.7 percent year on year.
On the other hand, in April this year Japan delivered 22 ships for export, totaling 848,240 gross tons, decreasing from 30 ships totaling 1.33 million gross tons recorded in March. In April 2013, Japan's new ship deliveries for export had totaled 18 ships with 858,215 gross tons. Meanwhile, in the first four months of this year, Japan delivered 107 ships for export, totaling 4.57 million gross tons, decreasing by 13.7 percent year on year.