Secondhand Investment Trends | October 2026

October’s secondhand sale-and-purchase market points to a change in where investors are deploying capital, rather than an across-the-board acceleration in buying. Tanker transactions expanded sharply, while dry bulk turnover contracted. At the same time, disclosed spending across all vessel sectors fell from September, highlighting the difference between the number of ships changing hands and the amount of capital committed. The latest geopolitical developments have complicated that assessment. Expectations of a potential easing in regional tensions have weighed on oil prices, yet operational uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz remains relevant for tanker earnings, fleet availability and investment decisions.

A total of 168 vessels were sold in October, nearly unchanged from a year earlier and only 2% above September. Tankers accounted for 82 sales, a 61% year-on-year increase, while dry bulk fell 30.5% to 57 transactions. The tanker sector therefore represented close to half of all monthly vessel sales, compared with approximately one-third for dry bulk. Disclosed investment reached approximately US$4.7bn across all vessel sectors, below September’s US$6.6bn. Tankers attracted US$2.94bn, against US$1.11bn in dry bulk, with the balance allocated to other vessel types. Tankers represented approximately 62% of all-sector disclosed spending and around 73% of the combined dry bulk–tanker total. The increase in tanker transaction activity therefore coexisted with a decline in aggregate monthly investment.

This story was originally published by Breakwave Advisors. Read the full story at Breakwave Advisors →