News / 'Optimistic' carriers continue to shop for new box ship tonnage

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Momentum in the box ship newbuilding market has remained firm, with steady demand across all vessel sizes.

In a clear sign that liner operators have not lost their appetite for larger ships, despite concerns of a tonnage overhang amid a record orderbook, French carrier CMA CGM has ordered six 22,000 teu LNG dual-fuelled ships at Dalian Shipbuilding (DSIC), with options for another four.

DSIC subsidiary CSSC Tianjin Shipbuilding will construct the vessels, for delivery between 2027 and 2028, each priced between $205m and $210m.

Despite CMA CGM’s pledge to order ships from US shipyards to pander to US president Donald Trump’s ambition to revive domestic shipbuilding, it is obvious that liner operators have no intention of turning their backs on Chinese shipbuilders that have the scale and experience to construct the mega-vessels.

Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has ordered eight 6,000 teu conventionally fuelled ships at Hengli Heavy Industry and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng (CM Yangzhou), costing $79m each. Delivery will be between 2027 and 2029.

Four ships are firm orders at Hengli, with options for four more, while CM Yangzhou will build four vessels, with options for another two.

Singapore-based EPS, owned by Idan Ofer, is turning its attention to feeder and mid-sized ships, having ordered a dozen at 1,800 teu from Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding this month, with options for another six. These are reportedly backed by long-term charters, although a charterer has not been named.

Finally, Greek owner Euroseas has ordered two 4,300 teu ships at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding, after commissioning an initial pair last October. Each ship is priced around $28m and will be delivered by mid-2028.

Alphaliner said this week it believed several factors were driving newbuild orders, including optimism about growing international trade, especially in emerging markets like West Africa, and a longer lead time for new vessel deliveries.

MB Shipbrokers added: “Asian and European buyers were active in China and South Korea, with multiple mid-to-large vessel projects now advancing toward letter-of-intent stage; again led by liners rather than tonnage providers.”