MSC has reportedly inked a significant newbuilding order in China for a series of dual-fuel vessels.

European shipbrokers indicated last week that MSC has reached an agreement with Hengli Heavy Industry to build up to 20 units of 20,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships, including optional orders. According to the same sources, deliveries are expected to commence in the first half of 2029. Both shipbroking and market sources have now confirmed the information.

Should the order be confirmed, it would represent MSC's first major containership construction contract of 2026.

The liner operator has recently been expanding aggressively in the Very Large Crude Carrier sector, where it has become one of the dominant forces through an alliance with South Korean owner Sinokor Maritime.

MSC and Hengli Heavy Industry have previously collaborated on newbuilding projects. According to Clarksons data, MSC has already ordered a series of 21,000 to 24,000 TEU containerships at the privately-owned Chinese yard since 2024, with delivery slots scheduled between 2027 and 2029.

According to the latest Alphaliner rankings, MSC's fleet currently comprises 999 vessels, including 753 owned and 246 chartered units. The company also has a further 134 vessels under construction. MSC had previously reached the milestone of operating 1,000 vessels.

Clarksons recently reported that newbuilding ordering activity in the containership segment remains at near-historic highs. During the first five months of this year, contracts were signed for 310 vessels totalling 9.6 million compensated gross tonnes. While this figure represents a 9% decline year-on-year, ordering activity remains double the ten-year average.

As a result, the global orderbook reached a new high of 12.9 million TEU in June, a 32% year-on-year increase and equivalent to 38% of the existing fleet.

According to data from Xclusiv Shipbrokers, newbuilding orders this year have been concentrated in the feeder and medium-sized vessel segments.

Two containership owners, Global Ship Lease and MPC Container Ships, have recently accelerated their fleet renewal programmes, focusing on the medium-sized vessel market. GSL has invested approximately US$413 million to order five new-generation medium-sized containerships, all secured against long-term charters. Meanwhile, MPCC has acquired four younger, 7,000 TEU eco-design second-hand vessels for roughly US$340 million, also backed by multi-year time charters.

While the two companies' strategies differ slightly—one emphasising newbuilding orders, the other the acquisition of young second-hand tonnage—both reflect a bullish outlook on modern, medium-sized, energy-efficient vessels. The view is that the segment benefits from growing intra-regional trade and a shortage of efficient tonnage supply.