Multinational company Mercuria has entered into a shipbuilding agreement with China’s largest private shipbuilder, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, to expand its new shipbuilding business.
Mercuria has signed a contract with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for the construction of two 74,000 dwt Panamax product tankers, according to Trade Winds. The new vessels, which are powered by traditional fuels, are expected to be delivered in 2027 with an order value of about $112 million, and a price of around $56 million each.
Sources in the shipbuilding industry said that the two product tankers had signed a shipbuilding contract a few weeks ago. If confirmed, this would be Mercuria’s second new shipbuilding order this year, all undertaken by Chinese shipyards.
In February this year, there is news that Mercuria through an innovative way in the form of long-term chartering and owned ships signed with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), for two 300,000 dwt Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). The new VLCCs, which are powered by conventional fuels, are expected to be delivered in 2027 and 2028 at a cost of approximately US$120 million each, with a total order value of US$240 million.
Founded in 2004, Mercuri is one of the world’s leading independent energy and commodities groups, with operations in more than 50 countries on five continents, and its currently operates a fleet of 42 vessels, of which 37 are owned and two VLCCs are chartered.
