Japanese shipbuilders are hoping to push up bulker newbuilding prices to compensate for a strengthening yen and reflect a rising dry bulk trading market.
A series of negotiations underway involving Asian and European operators with Japanese trading houses for bulker orders based on lease deals will set the tone for future prices, according to Tokyo sources.
Many of the deals under negotiation involve ultramax newbuildings, which the yards are hoping will kick off price rises across the dry sector.
