- Chinese Yards Dominate Bulker and Tanker Markets.
- Domestic Owners Drive China’s Order Boom.
- Japan Increasingly Turns to Chinese Shipyards.
Chinese shipyards are currently leading the way, holding a whopping 68% of bulkers and 69% of tankers, specifically, 939 out of 1,375 bulkers and 827 out of 1,203 tankers. This impressive figure showcases China’s extensive shipyard capacity, competitive pricing, and a strategic emphasis on managing its maritime supply chain, reports Safety4Sea.
Chinese Owners Drive Domestic Demand
Chinese shipowners have placed a total of 377 bulker orders, with Ultramaxes (110 units) and Kamsarmaxes (130 units) taking the lead, making up about two-thirds of their dry bulk orders. The demand for Handysize (41) and Small Bulker (23) orders reflects the needs of coastal trade, while 18 VLOCs and 29 Newcastlemaxes are set to renew tonnage for long-haul routes. The Panamax and Post-Panamax classes remain somewhat limited, underscoring China’s two-tier strategy: smaller vessels for domestic trade and larger ones for importing raw materials.
Japanese Owners Turn to China
Japanese shipowners have placed 96 bulker orders in Chinese shipyards, primarily consisting of 35 Ultramaxes, 35 Kamsarmaxes, 16 Handysizes, and 10 Newcastlemaxes. This shift is largely due to limited capacity in Japan and rising costs, indicating a growing confidence in Chinese shipyards. The Ultramax and Kamsarmax segments remain the battleground for competition, accounting for nearly half of all bulker orders in China.
Tanker Orders Show Expanding Influence
Out of the 827 tanker orders in Chinese shipyards, 200 are from Chinese owners. This includes 98 Small Tankers and 51 MR2s for regional trades, along with 21 Aframax/LR2s and 15 VLCCs aimed at bolstering long-haul crude logistics. Japanese tanker orders are relatively modest, totalling just 13 units, primarily 5 VLCCs and 4 MR2s, focusing on high-value, globally tradable designs.
A New Era of Collaboration
China’s dominance, with over two-thirds of all bulker and tanker orders, solidifies its position as both a builder and an owner. The emphasis on midsized bulkers and product tankers reflects a commitment to flexibility, efficiency, and compliance.
“At the same time, Japanese owners are slowly acknowledging the progress made by Chinese yards, increasingly placing orders there. While Japan still defines quality and precision, China has become the driving force of global output. Together, their growing cooperation signals a new era of industrial alignment shaping the next wave of fleet renewal.”
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Source: Safety4Sea
