China’s shipping giant Cosco Shipping has signed a massive contract for 87 newbuildings with shipyards under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), marking the largest single domestic shipbuilding deal in the country. The agreement, valued at over RMB 50bn ($7.07bn), was formalized during a high-profile ceremony in Shanghai on Monday.
The order covers a mix of containerships, tankers, bulk carriers, and multipurpose vessels and will be delivered across several CSSC facilities, including Jiangnan Shipyard, Guangzhou Shipyard International, Wuchang Shipbuilding, Dalian Shipbuilding, Beihai Shipbuilding, and Chengxi Shipyard.
The new vessels will feature next-generation energy-efficient designs, alternative-fuel-ready configurations, and digital, AI-enabled systems, aligning with the IMO’s decarbonisation roadmap and China’s push to modernize and secure its shipping supply chain.
The order involves multiple Cosco subsidiaries, including COSCO Shipping Lines, COSCO Shipping Bulk, COSCO Shipping Energy, COSCO Shipping Development, and COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers.
This contract builds on Cosco’s broader fleet expansion strategy. Earlier this year, the company advanced a $1.75bn programme for 29 ships and signed additional newcastlemax bulkers, cementing its position as the most active investor in China’s large bulk carrier market in 2025.
