Bulker owner and operator Agricore has placed an order for two ultramax newbuildings at Jiangsu Soho Chuangke Shipbuilding, with options attached for a further two vessels.
The 63,500 dwt units are scheduled for delivery in 2028, adding fresh work to the Yangzhou yard’s forward orderbook as it continues to rebuild its presence in the bulk carrier sector.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2016, the Chinese-owned and Hong Kong-registered Agricore runs a diversified dry bulk fleet spanning capesize, kamsarmax and ultramax segments. The company trades worldwide, calling at ports across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa, counting several of the world’s largest commodity groups among its long-term partners, including ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus Company and China’s Cofco Group.
Fleet data from VesselsValue shows Agricore has sold over 10 vessels and acquired nearly 20 in recent years. The company also has eight bulk carriers on order at Chinese yards, ranging from ultramax to newcastlemax.
For Soho Chuangke, the deal adds to a growing run of ultramax contracts secured since the yard’s restructuring. With the Agricore order included, the builder has now booked 20 bulk carriers of the same 63,500 dwt design. The shipyard operates under the Soho Chuangke name following its rebranding from Sainty Shipbuilding. Based in Yangzhou, it returned to shipbuilding in 2024 after a pause of nearly seven years, reopening with ultramax orders from China Development Bank Leasing, Jiangsu Ocean Shipping and Sea Traders, the dry bulk arm of Greek owner George Procopiou.
