CMA CGM has awarded a shipbuilding contract for twelve 18,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel containerships to Jiangnan Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
According to data from Intermodal, each vessel is priced between $206 million and $217.5 million, bringing the total contract value to approximately $2.6 billion. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029.
This order follows CMA CGM’s recent contract with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for a similar LNG dual-fuel containership fleet valued at $2.57 billion, with deliveries expected by December 2028.
Despite rising geopolitical tensions, including the United States’ proposed tariffs on Chinese-built and operated vessels, Chinese shipyards continue to dominate global shipbuilding. Intermodal reports that last week’s majority of newbuilding orders were placed with Chinese yards.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed a fee of up to $1.5 million per Chinese-built vessel entering US ports, aiming to curb China’s influence in global shipping and shipbuilding. If implemented, the measure could disrupt supply chains, increase costs, and reshape global trade routes.
Intermodal data indicates that 41.5% of the world’s in-service fleet was built in China, including 32.2% of the container fleet. Additionally, China’s shipyard order book includes 3,759 vessels, covering bulkers, tankers, containerships, and gas carriers.
With the US-built fleet having limited capacity, alternative shipbuilding hubs like South Korea and Japan may struggle to compensate for any potential disruptions, highlighting the critical role of Chinese shipyards in global maritime trade.