According to Bloomberg News, shipbreakers paid about $425 a ton for commodity carriers last month, compared with $490 a year earlier, based on Clarkson (CKN) Plc data. The tonnage sold in the first half rose 25 percent from a year earlier to 16.2 million tons, leading shipbrokers Clarkson told Bloomberg. “Owners haven’t got any option other than to scrap,” said Darren Lepper, a sales and purchase specialist at the London- based shipbroker. Panamax vessels have led the jump in scrapping with 56 sold for demolition in the first half compared with 38 a year earlier, according to Clarkson. The tonnage sold has risen 33 percent to 3.37 million tons. Older vessels “just cost too much” to operate, said Jayendu Krishna, a senior manager at Drewry Maritime Services in Singapore.