Japan’s most active private investors in the newbuilding market, Nissen Kaiun and Nisshin Shipping, have seen their respective orderbooks grow to more than $1bn on the back of timely counter-cyclical investments made at the very bottom of the market.

Nissen Kaiun's orderbook
Source: VesselsValue

Speculation over future ordering from the two low-key companies continues as they are poised to cash in on the low-cost newbuildings delivered into a rising charter market with improving asset values.