Chemical tanker owners have returned to the newbuilding market with a raft of new orders despite a dip in booming rates linked to the war in Ukraine, according to analyst Maritime Strategies International (MSI).

The newbuilding momentum has continued after a sharp rise in activity near the end of March with 40 new chemical tankers ordered in 2023 to the middle of June amounting to more than 600,000-dwt, said MSI.