Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation has agreed to sell two chemical tankers for $74.6m to an unnamed unaffiliated third party, resulting in an expected book gain of around $11.7m.

MISC is merging its chemical carrier fleet with the product fleet of its tanker arm AET.

Despite the grim projections for overall Chinese demand, Clarksons Platou director Mark Roberts has a more positive outlook for the chemical tanker industry.

A diverse range of cargoes keeps chemical tanker owners in a stable but very low-profit-margin environment, but a constant demand over ship age from charterers is forcing owners to order newbuildings that could ironically be a threat to safety.

Chemical tanker freight rates are anticipated to stay under pressure throughout 2016 against the backdrop of low bunker prices and increased newbuilding deliveries, according to shipping consultancy Drewry.

China’s Huatai Heavy Industry has won an order to build eight chemical tankers for Germany’s TB Marine-Hamburg.

Bergen-headquartered Odfjell has returned to profit in the third quarter ended 30 September 2015 despite a fall in revenue, aided by improved operational performance.

Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc has ordered four 49,000 dwt IMO2 eco-design chemical tankers to be built at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in South Korea.

A stronger performance by its tanker arm helped keep Stolt-Nielsen in the black in the third quarter.

IM Skaugen have reported a loss of $500,000 in the second quarter, as the sale of its ship to ship transfer and lightering business improved its results.