Enter a new market! Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry wins its first order for a super large oil tanker
Recently, Jiangsu Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry has made a significant breakthrough in the large oil tanker market, successfully undertaking the construction contracts for two 319000 ton VLCCs from bulk commodity trading company Trafigura.
These two new ships will be delivered in the third quarter of 2026, designed with advanced technology to meet the latest environmental and energy efficiency standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and will be built strictly in accordance with international ship regulations. The price of the new ship has not been announced, but according to ship brokers, the cost of each ship does not exceed 120 million US dollars, resulting in a total transaction amount of approximately 240 million US dollars (approximately 1.727 billion yuan).
As a reference, current Clarkson data shows that the price of a new VLCC ship with a load capacity of 315000 to 320000 is approximately $128 million, an increase of 7% compared to the same period last year's $120 million.
It is reported that Trafigura is one of the world's leading independent cross-border commodity trading and logistics companies, headquartered in Singapore, mainly engaged in base metals and energy, including oil. As one of the world's largest traders of metals and minerals, Tok Group procures, stores, mixes, and delivers basic raw materials and commodities worldwide. In 2020, the total trade volume of oil and petroleum products of Tok Group reached 268 million tons, ranking 27th in the Fortune Global 500.
It is worth mentioning that these two VLCCs will be the first batch of Trafigura's own VLCCs. According to Clarkson's data, Trafigura's own fleet currently consists of 17 liquid cargo ships, including 2 Suez tankers, 1 LR2 tanker, 2 LR1 tankers, 1 VLGC, 4 medium LPG tankers, and 7 asphalt transport ships, with a total carrying capacity of approximately 880000 deadweight tons.
For Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, this order is not only its first VLCC order, but also the largest ship it will build. According to Clarkson's data, the largest vessel previously built by Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry was the 208000 deadweight ton Newcastlemax bulk carrier, while the largest vessel built in the oil tanker sector was the Suez tanker.
Hantong Shipbuilding Industry stated that this contract not only demonstrates Hantong Shipbuilding Industry's strength in the international shipbuilding field, but also consolidates its position in the global shipbuilding market. Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry has a stable business style and has won the trust of customers with its high-quality products. Its main products are concentrated in the two major ship types of bulk cargo and liquid cargo ships, as well as marine engineering products. Bulk cargo ships of various types, such as 38000-208000 deadweight tons, have a full range of liquid cargo ship series including MR, LR1, LR2, Suez, and VLCC oil tankers. The two VLCCs undertaken this time will further demonstrate Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry's professional capabilities in the construction of large liquid cargo ships.
The signing of this contract is recognition by the market of Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry's technical strength and quality management. Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industry will make every effort to ensure the timely delivery of these two ultra large oil tankers and provide customers with high-quality standard ships; We will continue to devote ourselves to technological innovation and product upgrading to cope with the continuous technological upgrading in the global shipbuilding market; And we will continue to leverage our professional advantages in the construction of large bulk and liquid ships, providing global customers with more advanced, high-quality, and environmentally friendly ship products.
According to Clarkson's data, Hantong Shipbuilding Heavy Industries currently holds a total of 48 orders of 4.332 million deadweight tons, including 4 Suezmax tankers, 3 LR2 refined oil tankers, and 41 82000 Kamsarmax bulk carriers, with delivery scheduled until 2026.
