Driven by the growth of Chinese automobile exports, the global newbuild market for Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) is experiencing a new wave of orders, with Chinese shipowners and automakers emerging as the driving force behind this capacity expansion. The total volume of new PCTC orders is expected to hit a record high in 2026, with the vast majority of these orders being secured by Chinese shipbuilders.
Three Chinese companies to place orders for 21 PCTCs.
Market sources report that COSCO Shipping Specialized Transport Carriers (a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Group), Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, and SAIC Anji Logistics (a subsidiary of SAIC Motor) are planning to build 21 PCTCs with a capacity of 11,000 vehicles, at a total cost of $2.5 billion (approximately 16.7 billion RMB).
Regarding order volumes, multiple shipbuilding industry sources have revealed that COSCO SHIPPING Specialized plans to order up to 11 PCTCs, BYD intends to order eight, and Anji Logistics is ordering two.
Among them, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized has already signed shipbuilding contracts for three of the new vessels with Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry; the remaining orders will be undertaken by Guangzhou Shipyard International—a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation—and while the deal for this batch of new vessels has been “substantially finalized,” formal shipbuilding contracts have not yet been signed.
BYD’s eight new vessels will be built by three shipyards—Guangzhou Shipyard International, China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard, and China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen Shipyard (CMHI Haimen Shipyard)—though the specific number of vessels to be constructed by each yard has not yet been disclosed.
Anji Logistics launched a tendering process last month for the construction of two new 11,000-vehicle-capacity LNG dual-fuel PCTCs, with deliveries scheduled to begin by September 2029; the company also requires bidding shipbuilders to have delivered at least ten LNG dual-fuel PCTCs with a capacity of over 7,000 vehicles between January 1, 2023, and August 31, 2026.
Norwegian shipowner to build up to 12 LNG dual-fuel PCTCs.
In addition to three Chinese companies, the Norwegian shipowner Wallenius Wilhelmsen has announced plans to place orders for the construction of up to 12 large LNG dual-fuel PCTCs.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen is currently in advanced negotiations with shipbuilders to secure a contract for the construction of LNG dual-fuel PCTCs—comprising four firm orders and eight options—under favorable terms. The first four vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2030, while the eight optional vessels, if confirmed, are expected to be delivered on a quarterly basis starting in 2031. Details regarding the specific shipyard, vessel capacity, and contract price have not yet been disclosed, and the shipbuilding contract has not yet been signed.
If the project for up to 12 new vessels materializes, Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s total orderbook will rise to 26 vessels (including options), with delivery dates spanning from the third quarter of 2026 through 2032; the remaining 14 vessels are to be built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s current newbuild projects at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard comprise eight 11,700-CEU PCTCs and six 9,300-CEU PCTCs; of these, seven vessels are equipped with LNG dual-fuel engines and an ammonia-ready design, while another seven feature methanol dual-fuel engines.
Regarding shipbuilding progress, the “Arctic Tern”—the first 9,300-CEU methanol dual-fuel PCTC built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard for Wallenius Wilhelmsen—was delivered on July 15, 2026; the two parties currently have another 13 new vessels under construction.
New orders for PCTCs may hit a new annual high.
In addition to the aforementioned newbuild projects, numerous shipowners worldwide have signed contracts for PCTC construction over the past few months, with the majority of orders going to Chinese shipbuilders.
Norway’s Global Car Carriers has announced orders for 20 PCTCs this year, to be built by GSI (4 vessels), China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard (8 vessels), China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (6 vessels), and Mawei Shipbuilding (2 vessels); Israel’s Ray Car Carriers placed an order with GSI for 10 firm plus 2 optional 8,200-CEU PCTCs; Norway’s Höegh Autoliners ordered 6 firm plus 8 optional 9,100-CEU PCTCs from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu); and Switzerland’s Sallaum Lines ordered 1 firm plus 1 optional and 2 firm plus 2 optional 8,600-CEU PCTCs from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry, respectively.
If projects for over 30 new vessels—including those from COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers—fully materialize, the total volume of global PCTC newbuild orders for the year is expected to reach 130 vessels, setting a historic high for new vessel contracts in this market.