On April 27, Yangzijiang Maritime announced the further expansion of its fleet with an order for 10 newbuildings.

The order covers tankers and bulk carriers, with the following breakdown:

Four product or crude oil tankers of approximately 114,000 dwt, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029;

Four product or chemical tankers of approximately 49,800 dwt, scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028;

Two bulk carriers of approximately 40,000 dwt, scheduled for delivery in 2028.

Upon delivery of these vessels, the company's total fleet will expand to 105 ships, of which 53 will be under construction. According to reports, all vessels in this order have been placed at Chinese shipyards.

Yangzijiang Maritime stated it will continue its established strategy: utilizing standard designs, selecting established shipyards, pricing competitively, and flexibly deploying tonnage through leasing, chartering, or pre-delivery resale depending on market conditions.

Ren Yuanlin

Ren Yuanlin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Yangzijiang Maritime, noted that all newbuildings are designed to comply with Phase III of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), with the 49,800 dwt vessels also featuring methanol-ready notation. This order reflects the company's "prudent approach" to fleet investment, focusing on environmentally compliant tonnage that meets increasingly stringent regulations without disproportionately inflating capital costs.

This order follows just weeks after the company's much larger move into the crude sector, having contracted eight VLCCs, marking its first significant entry into the high-end tanker market.