China’s COSCO Shipping Signs Landmark Agreement For Construction Of 87 New Vessels

China COSCO Shipping Corporation has signed a deal to build 87 new ships, one of the largest single orders in recent years, industry experts say. The agreement was finalised on 8 December 2025 in Shanghai.

COSCO will work exclusively with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) to deliver the fleet expansion. The deal is worth around RMB 50 billion and aims to modernise COSCO’s fleet while boosting its competitiveness in global shipping.

CSSC will build a variety of vessels under the programme, including ultra-large bulk carriers, ultra-large container ships, very large crude carriers (VLCCs), multi-purpose heavy-lift ships, medium-range (MR) tankers, grain carriers, small container ships, and other specialised vessels.

Experts say the order shows China’s leading role in shipbuilding and is an important step for COSCO’s long-term growth. The deal is part of COSCO’s plan to modernise its fleet and meet future global shipping needs, using CSSC’s shipbuilding expertise.

Reference: Maritime Gateway

Source: Maritime Shipping News