Japan March ship exports down 34%

Ship export contracts concluded by Japanese shipyards in March fell 33.6% from a year earlier to about 1.37 mgrt, or 33 vessels, the Japan Ship Exporters Association reported. Orders in March consisted of six freighters, 14 bulk carriers and 13 oil tankers. Data show that contracts for bulk carriers declined most sharply falling to 82 from 163 in the year through March 2001.