Japanese conglomerate Orix Corp increasingly appears to be waging a fully-fledged bulker sales campaign after reports it is divesting its most forward-looking project in the asset class.

Brokers in Athens and the US report that Orix is selling two ultramax newbuildings it ordered just a few months ago at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.

Unidentified Greek owners are believed to have swooped on the 66,200-dwt bulkers that are scheduled for delivery in 2023, for about $35m each.