According to the data released by the Japan Ship Exporters' Association (JSEA), Japanese new export ship orders in March this year almost tripled on tonnage basis compared to the previous month, increasing to 21 ships totaling 1.12 million gross tons, consisting of one general cargo ship, four tankers and 16 bulk carriers. In March 2011, Japan's new export ship orders totaled 25 ships with 1 million gross tons.
At the end of the first quarter of the current year, Japanese shipbuilders' order books for export totaled 45 ships, with a total gross tonnage of 2.17 million gross tons, falling by 29 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, in March, Japan delivered 36 ships totaling 1.75 million gross tons for export, increasing from 27 ships totaling 1 million gross tons recorded in February this year. In the first quarter of this year, Japan delivered 105 ships for export, totaling 4.6 million gross tons, down 10 percent compared to the first quarter of 2011.