Container ship market secures new orders as China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding secures eight new vessels of two types from Taiwanese and Vietnamese shipowners.
Wan Hai Lines orders six 6,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships
On December 16, according to documents filed by Taiwanese container shipping company Wan Hai Lines with the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the company confirmed an order for six 6,000 TEU liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel medium-sized container ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The unit cost of each new vessel ranges from $75.2 million to $82 million, with the total order valued between $451.2 million and $492 million. Delivery is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
This marks Wan Hai Lines’ second shipbuilding project in the container ship market this year. Earlier this year, Wan Hai Lines announced orders for two 16,000 TEU large container ships each from HD Hyundai Samho and Samsung Heavy Industries. With this latest order, Wan Hai Lines has now placed orders for a total of 12 16,000 TEU large container ships with these two shipyards, valued at approximately $2.6 billion.
Wan Hai Lines’ fleet of 16,000 TEU large container ships was originally planned with methanol-ready designs. However, due to the unstable methanol fuel supply chain and its lack of price competitiveness compared to LNG, the fuel has now been switched to LNG. This fuel change is expected to increase costs by over $30 million each. The six newbuilds ordered from Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard will also feature LNG dual-fuel systems, further demonstrating Wan Hai Lines’ confidence in LNG as a fuel source.
Notably, Wan Hai Lines’ newbuilding projects in recent years have not prioritized mainland Chinese shipyards, instead focusing primarily on orders placed with shipyards in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. For instance, in 2021, it ordered over 20 feeder container ships from Nippon Yusen Kaisha; From 2021 to 2025, it placed cumulative orders for 15 large container ships with Samsung Heavy Industries; From 2024 to 2025, it placed cumulative orders for 10 medium-to-large container ships with HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries; From 2022 to 2024, it placed cumulative orders for approximately 20 small-to-medium container ships with CSBC Corporation, Taiwan.
However, although Wan Hai Lines does not frequently build ships at mainland Chinese shipyards, the aforementioned six new vessels are not its first collaboration with Huangpu Wenchong. In 2018, Wan Hai Lines placed an order with Huangpu Wenchong for 12 2038TEU feeder container ships and 4+2 1900TEU feeder container ships. This cooperation marks the two parties’ renewed partnership after a seven-year interval.
Vietnam’s Thilogi orders two Bangkok-type container ships
In addition to Wan Hai Lines’ order, Vietnamese logistics firm Truong Hai Group has also placed an order for new vessels with Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, aiming to accelerate its expansion into the container shipping market.
Alphaliner reports that Thilogi, a subsidiary of Truong Hai Group, has ordered two Bangkok-type container ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. Delivery is expected between late 2027 and early 2028.
Currently, the market price for Bangkok-type container ships ranges from approximately $31 million to $32 million, depending on shipyard scheduling, technical specifications, and delivery time. Based on this calculation, the total value of the two new vessels from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding ranges between $62 million and $64 million.
It is understood that Thilogi is a subsidiary of Vietnam’s state-owned industrial conglomerate Truong Hai Group, whose operations span automotive manufacturing, construction, agriculture, services, and transportation. The order for two Bangkok-type container ships at Huangpu Wenchong marks a significant strategic upgrade for Truong Hai Group in the maritime sector, while also representing the largest vessels to date in the group’s fleet.
Currently, Truong Hai Group operates only two small container multipurpose vessels under the Vietnamese flag. These vessels primarily serve Thilogi’s domestic routes, shuttling between Haiphong, Quy Nhon, and Ho Chi Minh City.
As a leader in feeder container ships, Huangpu Wenchong holds the top global market share in this sector. According to data released by the company days ago, it currently has 57 vessels on order, establishing a comprehensive portfolio of feeder container ships ranging from 1,000 TEU to 9,000 TEU. The unveiling of these eight new vessels further solidifies its leading position and formidable competitiveness in the feeder container ship market.