Japan export deals triple

Japan's export shipbuilding orders in May more than tripled from a year earlier to 1,193,250 gross tonnes, an industry group says.

The figure compared with orders totalling 348,550 tonnes in May last year, the Japan Ship Exporters Association said.

Last month Japanese shipbuilders received orders for 26 bulk carriers totalling 736,130 tonnes, the association said. Orders for two freighters totalled 33,800 tonnes, and those for eight oil tankers 401,720 tonnes.