In 2025, tanker sale and purchase (S&P) activity has shown robust health, with Clarksons Research logging 409 vessels totaling 44.5 million dwt and $13.9 billion in value sold year-to-date. This marks a 27% increase in deadweight tonnage over the 2024 run rate, though dollar volume rose only 3% due to declining secondhand prices—a trend signaling strong demand for tonnage despite softer valuations that matter for fleet renewal and energy trade flows.
Tanker Market Leads with Resilient Volume
Clarksons’ five-year-old tanker secondhand price index averaged 10% lower in 2025 than 2024, yet ticked up 5% since September, reflecting stabilizing sentiment. VesselsValue data shows December stability across sectors, with VLCCs posting the strongest gains: 20-year-old 310,000 dwt units rose 7.27% month-on-month to $43.21 million, driven by tight supply of compliant eco-vessels amid geopolitical tensions boosting long-haul crude demand.
- NYK sold the 19-year-old VLCC Towada for $45.7 million.
- Cido Shipping offloaded the 14-year-old Mermaid Hope and Mercury Hope en bloc for $120 million.
These deals underscore buyers' appetite for mid-life tonnage, supporting extended fleet utilization as newbuild delays persist.
Bulker and Container Segments Hold Firm
Bulker S&P slowed to 14 transactions in early December despite solid freight and charter rates, with values steady. Capesize saw uplift, as 20-year-old 180,000 dwt ships climbed 5.42% to $19.06 million, fueled by commodity booms in iron ore and coal.
- NGM Shipping flipped the 14-year-old Japanese-built Pacifist cape from $19 million (2020 buy) to $32 million.
- NYK Bulkship sold the 2012-built 107,000 dwt NBA Rembrandt to ArcelorMittal Shipping for $18.7 million.
Containers mirrored charter stability—up 35% year-on-year—despite 45% drop in Drewry's global 40ft rates. Alphaliner notes cheerful S&P mood, exemplified by Global Ship Lease's $90 million en bloc buy of three 8,568 teu middle-aged sisters on charter to CMA CGM.
Implications for Global Shipping Outlook
This healthy S&P pace signals confidence in sustained trade volumes, countering newbuild scarcity and emission regulations. Softer tanker prices offer entry points for investors eyeing geopolitical risks and energy transitions, while bulker gains highlight commodity resilience. As 2025 closes, firm pricing across sizes points to a bullish 2026, bolstering supply chain stability amid volatile global demand.
