Sale and purchase activity in the tanker sector has shown robust growth through 2025, with Clarksons Research tallying 409 vessels totaling 44.5 million deadweight tonnes sold for $13.9 billion. This marks a 27% increase in tonnage terms over the 2024 run rate, though dollar volume rose only 3% amid declining secondhand prices. The disparity signals strong buyer interest in acquiring capacity even as asset values soften.
Tankers Demonstrate Resilience in Values
Clarksons’ index for five-year-old tankers averaged 10% lower in 2025 compared to 2024, yet prices have climbed 5% since September, hinting at recovering sentiment. Vessel values held steady across most categories through December, with VesselsValue reporting the sharpest rise in very large crude carriers: 20-year-old 310,000 dwt units jumped 7.27% month-on-month to $43.21 million, driven by demand for older compliant tonnage amid supply constraints. Key deals underscored this trend, including NYK’s sale of the 19-year-old VLCC Towada for $45.7 million and Cido Shipping’s en bloc disposal of the 14-year-old Mermaid Hope and Mercury Hope for $120 million.
Bulk Carriers Trail Amid Solid Freight Markets
Only 14 bulk carriers traded hands in the first half of December, lagging despite firm freight rates and time charter levels. Values remained stable, but capesize vessels led gains, with 20-year-old 180,000 dwt ships rising 5.42% to $19.06 million since early December. NGM Shipping captured substantial returns by selling the 14-year-old Japanese-built Pacifist for $32 million, roughly five years after acquiring it for about $19 million. Separately, NYK Bulkship offloaded the 2012-built 107,000 dwt NBA Rembrandt for $18.7 million, reportedly to ArcelorMittal Shipping, following the September sale of its sistership NBA Rubens to Golden Union for around $15 million.
Container Market Ends Year on High Note
The container charter market maintained elevated stability throughout 2025, up 35% against the prior year’s average, even as global 40-foot container rates fell 45% year-over-year per Drewry. Alphaliner described sale and purchase activity as cheerful, with persistent demand across sizes and firm pricing. Global Ship Lease secured the middle-aged 8,568 teu sister vessels Cypress, Koi, and Lotus A en bloc for $90 million, complete with a time charter back to CMA CGM.
These patterns reflect broader market confidence in shipping assets, where volume growth outpaces value in tankers due to softer pricing, yet selective appreciation in older tonnage points to supply tightness and opportunistic plays yielding strong gains.
