News / Smaller box ships remain favourite as orders continue to flood in

Newbuilding orders in the past fortnight continue to be focused on the mid-sized and feeder segments.

XT Shipping booked four 6,000 teu ships at Chinese shipbuilder Hengli Heavy Industry, for delivery in 2028, priced around $79m each.

The shipping unit of XT Group, controlled by Israeli magnates Idan Ofer and Udi Angel, recently returned to ordering box ships, having also commissioned a 3,160 teu pair at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) in October.

South Korean intra-Asia carrier Namsung Shipping and subsidiary Dong Young Shipping ordered two 4,300 teu and two 1,900 teu ships, respectively, at China’s CSSC Huangpu Wenchong at a total cost of $185m. These are their first newbuilding orders in three years, and their first at a Chinese yard, having previously supported compatriot shipbuilders.

Once completed in 2028, the 4,300 teu ships will be the largest in Namsung’s fleet. Currently, the largest is 2,500 teu.

Namsung said it placed the orders with specific routes in mind, adding: “Our long-term growth strategy is centred on routes in India and South-east Asia.”

Tonnage provider Songa Box ordered four 3,100 teu ships at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering. Priced around $45m each, the ships will be delivered between 2028 and 2029

Kanghong Yangpu Shipping, a new Chinese shipowner, has ordered two 1,900 teu sister ships at revived Chinese shipbuilder Ningbo Penghong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, priced around $30m each, dor delivery in 2027

Shanghai International Port Group’s intra-Asia operating subsidiary, Shanghai Jin Jiang Shipping, has exercised options for another two 1,180 teu vessels from SUMEC Marine, after an initial order for two in September. Each will cost around $25m and the orders reflect JJ Shipping’s expansion of its routes, particularly to South-east Asia.

Finally, Indonesian feeder operator PT Meratus Line has ordered a 693 teu pair at CSSC Guangxi Shipbuilding for around $17.5m each, tol be delivered in 2027.

MB Shipbrokers noted that 5.3m teu of containership tonnage was contracted in 2025, surpassing 2024’s previous high of 4.4m teu.

The Danish brokerage said: “This increased pace of ordering underscores solid demand for fleet renewal within, basically, all tonnage sizes. With most yards now committed well into mid-2028 and 2029, we expect any remaining ‘early slots’ to be committed rather swiftly.”