China Shipbuilders' Losses Seen Widening

The core business revenue of 80 major shipbuilding companies declined 22.4 percent to 84.1 billion yuan ($13.7 billion) from January to May 2013, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information quoted by China Daily.

CSSC Jiangnan Heavy Industry - the Shanghai-listed arm of China State Shipbuilding Corp, one of the nation's largest shipbuilders - reported its first-half revenue for year 2013 dropped 39.49 percent year-on-year to 319 million yuan ($51.63 million), and it reported a loss of 61.52 million yuan for the same period. It added the market is still sluggish and that orders are drying up, which dragged down both its core business and its non-shipbuilding revenue.

Meanwhile, accoding to China Daily, as shipbuilding companies are posting hefty losses, the major Chinese banks are starting to tighten credit lines for the sector, which may compound difficulties and make it more difficult for the companies to overcome the current slump.

Source: China Daily