STATE conglomerates China State Shipbuilding Corp and China Cosco Shipping Corp have announced a record Yuan50bn ($7.1bn) of combined orders for 87 vessels, a mix of firm newbuilding contracts and intention agreements.
It was billed as the largest single domestic newbuilding package ever obtained by a Chinese builder. Of the total, about Yuan47bn will be settled in cross-border Chinese yuan, the highest such amount reported so far in this sector.
All 87 vessels are slated to be built at CSSC yards, including Jiangnan Shipyard, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry, Guangzhou Shipyard International, Chengxi Shipyard and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, according to an exchange filing by CSSC‑listed unit China CSSC Holdings.
The company added that the orders comprise both firm contracts and letters of intent.
The series spans a wide range of ship types, including ultra-large containerships, very large bulk carriers, very large crude carriers, grain carriers, multipurpose heavy-lift vessels, middle-range tankers, ro-pax vessels and small boxships.
Cosco said the newbuilding programme forms a key part of the group’s efforts to adjust fleet structure and maintain scale advantages as the industry moves towards larger, greener and smarter tonnage.
The Chinese owner has embarked on a major fleet expansion since 2024, with its bulker orders marking its largest capacity increase in more than a decade. On October 30, its leasing subsidiary Cosco Shipping Development announced orders for 23 kamsarmax dry bulkers and six 307,000 dwt VLCCs, worth more than $1.7bn.
In the containership segment, Alphaliner data shows that the Cosco operates 545 containerships totalling nearly 3.6m teu and holds an orderbook of 82 newbuildings. Industry grapevines suggest that the group plans to expand its fleet through a combination of newbuilding orders and mergers and acquisitions.
CSSC Holdings’ latest fiscal report shows that, following its merger with CSIC Ltd, the company posted Yuan107.4bn in revenue for the first three quarters of 2025, up 18% year on year, while net profit attributable to shareholders rose 115.4% to Yuan5.9bn.
The company said the newly signed 87-ship programme, once delivered, is expected to boost future revenue and profits and enhance its medium- to long-term competitiveness.
However, it is unclear whether the full 87‑ship tally represents entirely new orders or includes a portion of contracts signed earlier. Based on past practice, CSSC has previously used major events such as Marintec China to roll existing orders into headline “new” order announcements to build momentum and market impact.
The company has been approached for comments.
