Swiss commodities trader Mercuria Energy Group is ramping up its new shipbuilding projects and has already placed orders for new vessels with two Chinese shipyards.
According to shipbroker Bancosta, Mercuria Energy has placed orders with Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (Nantong Xiangyu SOE) for 2+2 211,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carriers, at a cost of approximately US$77.5 million each, with delivery expected in mid-2028; and with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (DSIC) for 2 115,000 DWT Aframax/LR2 product tankers, at a cost of US$72 million each, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2028. These tankers will be built by Shanhaiguan Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (SHGSIC) under DSIC.
All vessels in this new order feature conventional fuel propulsion systems. Should the option orders be exercised, the total value of the six Type 2 vessels would exceed $450 million.
It is understood that Nantong Xiangyu SOE currently focuses primarily on environmentally friendly and energy-efficient bulk carriers, tankers and container ships under 100,000 tons, small-to-medium-sized stainless steel/special-coated chemical tankers and other specialized vessels.
In 2025, Nantong Xiangyu SOE formally entered the Newcastlemax bulk carrier construction market through a newbuilding project for Japanese shipowner Doun Kisen. This new ship order from Mercuria Energy will further enhance Nantong Xiangyu SOE’s competitiveness in the vessel type market, thereby rapidly expanding its product portfolio.
Mercuria Energy’s two Aframax/LR2 product tankers mark the second shipbuilding contract announced by DSIC in 2026. On January 5, China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) announced an order worth 1.79 billion yuan (approximately US$257 million) with DSIC for 1+1 DP2-class 154,000 DWT Suezmax shuttle tankers, scheduled for delivery in 2028.
For shipowner Mercuria Energy, the construction of up to four bulk carriers in collaboration with Nantong Xiangyu SOE forms part of its fleet renewal and expansion plan. The company has already secured at least four second-hand large bulk carriers for delivery by 2025 to scale up its operations in this segment. Meanwhile, DSIC’s tanker orders reflect Mercuria Energy’s diversified positioning within the shipping market.
It is reported that Mercuria Energy was founded in Geneva in 2004 by Marco Dunand and Daniel Jaeggi, and currently operates a fleet of approximately 40 vessels. The group has historically supported newbuild investments through long-term charter agreements rather than direct ownership. In addition to its latest order, Mercuria Energy has previously placed orders for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) as well as LR1 and MR product tankers, scheduled for delivery by 2027.