Sale and purchase activity in the tanker sector has surged this year, with Clarksons Research tallying 409 vessels totaling 44.5 million deadweight tons sold for $13.9 billion through late 2025. This marks a 27 percent increase in tonnage terms over the 2024 pace, though dollar volume climbed only 3 percent due to weaker secondhand pricing. The disparity highlights persistent buyer interest amid fluctuating asset values in a market shaped by regulatory pressures and supply constraints.
Tankers Show Resilience in Pricing and Deals
Clarksons’ five-year-old tanker secondhand price index averaged 10 percent lower in 2025 than in 2024, yet levels rose 5 percent since September. Vessel values held steady across most categories in December, with VesselsValue reporting sharp gains for very large crude carriers: 20-year-old 310,000 dwt VLCCs jumped 7.27 percent month-on-month to $43.21 million. Tight availability of compliant older tonnage drives this demand, as buyers seek vessels meeting environmental standards.
Headline deals underscore the pace. NYK sold the 19-year-old VLCC Towada for $45.7 million, while Cido Shipping offloaded the 14-year-old sister VLCCs Mermaid Hope and Mercury Hope en bloc for $120 million. These transactions reflect confidence in tankers' earning potential despite broader price softness.
Bulk Carriers Trail Amid Firm Freight Rates
Bulker S&P activity cooled in early December, with just 14 vessels changing hands despite robust freight markets and time charter rates. Values stayed level in most segments, though capesize tonnage posted gains: VesselsValue data shows 20-year-old 180,000 dwt capesizes rose 5.42 percent since December's start to $19.06 million.
Notable sales reveal profit opportunities. NGM Shipping, an opportunistic player, sold the 14-year-old Japanese-built capesize Pacifist for $32 million after acquiring it five years prior for about $19 million. NYK Bulkship also divested the 2012-built 107,000 dwt NBA Rembrandt for $18.7 million to ArcelorMittal Shipping, following the earlier sale of its sistership NBA Rubens for around $15 million.
Containers Cap Year on Steady Charter Demand
The container market mirrors charter stability, with rates holding at elevated levels—up 35 percent against 2024's one-year average—while global 40-foot container rates fell 45 percent year-over-year per Drewry. Alphaliner notes a cheerful close to 2025 S&P, driven by demand across sizes and firm prices.
Global Ship Lease acquired the middle-aged 8,568 teu sister ships Cypress, Koi, and Lotus A en bloc for $90 million, including a time charter back to CMA CGM. Such deals signal sustained investment in assets backed by reliable charters, even as spot cargo rates weaken.
