Zhonggu steps up boxship investments with larger newbuilds

China’s Zhonggu Shipping Group has signed up for two 14,000 teu containerships at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, moving into significantly larger tonnage as investment across the group gathers pace.

The Shanghai-based company has contracted the conventionally fuelled pair, without disclosing the value or delivery dates.

The agreement adds another large containership series to Hudong-Zhonghua’s expanding orderbook.

Last month, fellow Chinese carrier China United Lines contracted two conventionally fuelled 14,000 teu ships at the yard, following earlier business from German tonnage provider Peter Döhle.

Zhonggu Shipping Group is also the controlling shareholder of Shanghai-listed Zhonggu Logistics, holding 57.46% of its shares.

The listed carrier has been building up its own newbuilding programme throughout 2026.

In June, it confirmed plans to increase the capacity of eight previously ordered containerships from 6,000 teu to 6,300 teu, following a revision of their design.

Together with 10 smaller 1,800 teu vessels ordered earlier in the year, that programme involves investment of RMB6.86bn ($1bn).

The company has earmarked RMB3bn from a planned convertible bond issue to help finance the vessels.

Its earlier contracts were spread between Hengli Heavy Industries, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard.

The newly reported Hudong-Zhonghua deal represents a further increase in vessel size.

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