China’s shipyards are expected to “catch up” much of the newbuilding output lost in the second quarter of 2022 due to the country’s zero-Covid strategy, according to Clarksons.

Since March, disruption due to Covid-19 restrictions, notably the Shanghai lockdown, has contributed to lower volumes from Chinese yards.

In April, newbuilding deliveries were just 800,000 cgt, down 24% year-on-year with zero deliveries from yards in Shanghai.