France’s CMA CGM has signed up for a fresh series of containership newbuildings in China.
The Marseille-headquartered liner giant is being widely tipped as the owner behind a dozen LNG dual-fuel 18,000 teu vessels contracted at CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard.
The order comes hot on the heels of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) agency’s proposal to charge Chinese-built vessels as much as $1.5m per visit to US ports.
The deal is worth between $2.5bn and $2.6bn and will see the ships delivered in 2028 and 2029.
It is CMA CGM’s second order for large containerships this year, following a $2.6bn contract for another twelve 18,000 teu LNG dual-fuel newbuilds at Korean shipyard HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The Rodolphe Saadé-led company, which is trailing closely behind Maersk in the largest liner rankings, built the world’s first 23,000 teu LNG-powered ships and Jiangnan and has more lined up for delivery from the yard in 2025 and 2026.
