China’s Nanjing Tanker has signed up for a new 9,500 cu m ethylene carrier, expanding its reach in the gas shipping market.
The order, placed through subsidiary Shanghai Changshi Shipping at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng, is valued at about $51m, with delivery scheduled for the first half of 2028.
The Shanghai-listed outfit said the vessel would optimise its ethylene fleet capacity and consolidate its role in the liquefied ethylene gas (LEG) trade. The order is structured as a related-party transaction, since both the shipyard and the owner fall under the China Merchants Group umbrella.
Nanjing Tanker, which operates a fleet of more than 70 ships, has been active in fleet renewal. Over the past 12 months, it has committed to a mix of MR, LR1 and LR2 tanker newbuilds at domestic yards. The latest order marks a move into higher-value gas shipping, positioning the company to capture demand growth in the petrochemical sector.
Founded in 1993, Nanjing Tanker went through a leadership change earlier in 2025 when Lei Ding, vice president of China Merchants Energy Shipping and former head of Hong Kong Ming Wah Shipping, took over as chairman.
