Roaring S&P start to 2022 points to new records

The opening weeks of 2022 suggest another record year is on the cards in terms of the overall sale and purchase segment in shipping.

Last year set new highs in terms of ships changing hands with Clarkson Research Services tallying 148m dwt – equivalent of 7% of the global merchant fleet – sold for just over $47bn.

Clarksons’ overall secondhand price index rose 97% in 2021, with the boxship price index surging 168%.

Amid further price gains, the first six weeks of the year saw a busy start to 2022, clocking up another $6.2bn of secondhand spending. That’s an annual run-rate of around $53bn which would be another new record.