China’s Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group has revealed that it has won its largest ever bulk carriers order to build four 260,000 dwt VLOCs for Australia’s mining firm Fortescue.

Fortescue had announced earlierthat it ordered the VLOCs at a Chinese yard, but it did not reveal the name of the shipbuilder.

Singapore-listed Yangzijiang said the newbuildings are expected to be delivered from 2016 to 2017.

“The group has observed that shipowners are enhancing their focus on vessels’ operational efficiencies and as a result, the shipbuilding industry is experiencing a rise in demand for larger vessels that provides higher carrying capacity,” said Ren Yuanlin, executive chairman of Yangzijiang.

“The demand uptrend for these cost effective and higher efficiency vessels is in line with the group’s goal to scale the shipbuilding value chain,” Ren added.