The festive season is here, so shoppers are out and looking to buy. However, when it comes to the bulk carrier sale and purchase market, business has been booming throughout 2016, says Clarkson Research Services. The depressed earnings environment and limited availability of finance have seen increased ‘distressed’ sales, while some investors have been hoping to pick up a bargain. Let us take a look at this ship shopping spree. A total of 567 bulkers of a combined 40m dwt were sold secondhand in January to November 2016, equivalent to 5% of bulker fleet capacity at the start of 2016. In terms of tonnage, sales were up 15% on full year 2015 and slightly above the previous annual record in 2007.