Intra-Asia trade the next hunting ground for M&A-hungry carriers
The intra-Asia trade has emerged from 2025 not only as questionably the largest trade, but ...
By Alison Koo
Newbuilding orders continue to be dominated by feeder ships as liners and non-operating owners pull back from ultra-large vessels.
The past fortnight has seen no fewer than 25 commissions for feeders, notably Turkish tonnage provider Ya-Sa Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Ticaret, also known as Ya-Sa Shipmanagement, primarily active in the dry bulk and tanker sector, debuting in the container segment.
Ya-Sa has ordered a 3,100 teu pair, for $45m each, at Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry, for delivery by October 2028.
Zhonggu Logistics, China’s largest coastal container shipping company, continues its newbuilding push, booking ten 1,800 teu ships at revived compatriot shipbuilder Wuhan Qingshan. Each vessel, at less than $39.2m, will be delivered between 2028 and 2029.
The order came two months after Zhonggu ordered six 6,000 teu ships at Hengli Heavy Industry and China Merchants Shipyard (Jinling) to “enhance the company’s competitiveness, profitability and sustainable development capabilities, while creating greater value for shareholders, in line with its future strategic plan”.
Previously part of Sinotrans CSC Shipbuilding Industry, Wuhan Qingshan retreated from shipbuilding in 2018, after its orders evaporated, and the shipyard diverted to producing steel structures. State-owned China Merchants Group took over Sinotrans CSC in 2017, and this year reactivated Wuhan Qingshan to respond to the newbuilding boom.
Intra-Asia carrier SITC Container Lines, through its ship-owning affiliate, has exercised options for six more 1,100 teu ships at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, after an initial order for four vessels last December. Costing $22.8m each, they will be delivered between March and August 2028.
SITC said the company was increasing its owned fleet of container vessels to meet the increase in demand for the group’s operational requirements.
German tonnage provider Peter Doehle Schiffahrts has ordered a 3,100 teu pair at China’s Chengxi Shipyard, part of China State Shipbuilding. The ships, each with 910 reefer plugs, are estimated to cost $48m each, but delivery dates have not been confirmed. It is Chengxi’s first containership order since 2019.
Venergy Maritime, the recently created boxship arm of Greek ship owner Vyron Vasileiadis’s V Group, has ordered two more 1,900 teu ships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong after commissioning four similar vessels in December 2024 at $30m each,
Tonnage provider Erasmus ShipInvest has ordered a 1,800 teu pair at Wenchong, with options for two more. The Greece-based company headed by John Su is active in all shipping segments and is expanding its fleet. The feeders are $35m each and will be delivered in late 2028.
Finally, Chinese forwarder Grand Marine Logistics & Supply moved into ship-owning with an order for a 1,056 teu ship at Ningbo Penghong, which will deliver the vessel in early 2027.
Overall, said MB Shipbrokers, boxship newbuilding activity remained solid, with several projects continuing to move forward.
The Danish brokerage added: “In the feeder segment, demand continues to be driven by Asian operators and we are tracking several pipeline projects from 1,900 to 4,350 teu.”
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