The latest Intermodal Weekly Market Report for Week 51 of 2025 shows that newbuilding activity remained robust in late December, with a broad mix of orders placed across containership, tanker and bulk segments, indicating sustained confidence among shipowners ahead of the new year.
Order volume and segment highlights
Despite typical year-end seasonality, shipowners continued to commit to new vessels during the week, with a total of 11 orders reported, comprising 30 firm and 9 optional units.
Containerships dominated much of the activity:
- MSC Mediterranean placed a significant order for 6 firm plus 6 optional LNG dual-fuel 11,400 TEU containerships at Zhoushan Changhong Shipyard, slated for delivery in 2029.
- Wan Hai Lines contracted 6 LNG dual-fuel 6,000 TEU vessels at Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, with deliveries expected in 2030.
- Additional orders included 6 feeder-class 3,700 TEU units by MPCC at Taizhou Sanfu and 1.9k TEU vessels by Venergy Maritime and Truong Hai at Chinese yards.
This strong containership ordering reflects continued shipowner emphasis on fuel-efficient, future-compliant assets in support of growing global trade volumes.
Tanker and Bulk Carrier Activity
The tanker segment also saw notable action:
Four new tanker orders were placed, including large crude carriers and shuttle tankers: Cape Shipping contracted a 319,000 dwt VLCC at Qingdao Beihai, while Kyoei Tanker secured a 310,000 dwt unit at JMU Ariake for delivery in 2029. A pair of 154,000 dwt DP2 shuttle tankers were ordered by Chinese owner CMES at DSIC. Additionally, Monte Nero booked two LR2 product carriers at Hengli Shipbuilding.
In the dry bulk sector, DryDel contracted a 182,000 dwt capesize carrier at Namura Shipbuilding for delivery in 2029 — though bulk newbuilding orders still lag behind containership momentum.
Offshore and Support Craft
Offshore support vessel construction also posted a notable order: MegaTugs Salvage of Greece made a commitment for 2 firm plus 2 optional tugboats at Onex Shipyards, marking a resurgence in local commercial shipyard activity.
Market implications and Outlook
The diversity of orders — spanning ultra-large containerships, product and crude tankers, bulk carriers, and offshore support craft — underscores a broadly constructive market outlook, even amid mixed sector fundamentals. With containership orders especially buoyant, the newbuilding market continues to pivot toward eco-efficient, LNG powered tonnage, reflecting both regulatory drivers and commercial demand.
Overall, these developments suggest that shipowners remain willing to invest in fleet renewal and expansion, particularly for vessels that promise long-term operational and environmental benefits.
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Source: Intermodal
