French liner giant CMA CGM has ordered up to 12 liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel large container ships from a Chinese shipyard, with the total value of the order approaching $2.5 billion, multiple sources said.
CMA CGM has reportedly ordered eight 18,000 TEU container ships from Jiangnan Shipyard, and the contract also includes four option vessels. The price of a single vessel is around $208 million and is expected to be delivered between 2028 and 2029.
This is the second large container ship order placed by CMA CGM in less than a month. Last month, CMA CGM placed an order for 12 LNG dual-fuel large container ships at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with a total order value of about $2.58 billion and a single vessel price of $215 million, scheduled for delivery by December 2028.
Earlier in July 2024, CMA CGM placed a contract with HD Hyundai for 12 15,500 TEU container ships at a total cost of about $2.66 billion, with a single vessel cost of about $222 million.HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries are building six ships each, which are scheduled to be delivered by June 2028.The contract was signed in July 2024, and is expected to be completed in the next few months, with a total cost of about $1 billion.
Large, ultra-large container ships in the beginning of 2025 has ushered in a wave of “order tide”.
Just a few days ago (February 12), China’s Taiwan-based container shipping company Evergreen Marine announced that it had placed orders for 11 24,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel ultra-large container ships, with a total value of up to $3.245 billion, with two Chinese and South Korean shipyards. Among them, five will be built by Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) and six by Hanwha Ocean.