Tianjin Southwest Maritime has ordered two very large ammonia carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard, extending its long-standing partnership with one of China’s leading gas-carrier builders. Industry sources said the Chinese owner has signed for a pair of 90,000 cu m VLACs, each priced at about $114.5m, for delivery in 2028.
The order marks a fresh step into large-scale ammonia transport for Tianjin Southwest, which was an early mover in the VLGC segment and has since built a diversified gas-carrier fleet. The company ordered its first VLGCs at Jiangnan more than a decade ago, and the yard has since expanded its footprint across multiple gas carrier types and large containerships.
Tianjin Southwest operates small and medium-sized LPG and ethylene carriers, fully refrigerated liquid ammonia ships, VLGCs and bitumen carriers, handling a wide range of gaseous chemical and liquid cargoes. It ranks as one of China’s largest LPG shipping companies and was among the country’s first owners to run ethylene, VLGC and refrigerated ammonia carriers.
The company’s customer base includes major Chinese and international energy and petrochemical players such as Sinopec, CNOOC, CNOOC-Shell, SECCO, Fujian United Chemical, BASF Yangzi, Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Marubeni, Vitol, Chevron, SK, Trafigura, SRC, IRPC, KBC, GS-Caltex and PTT. The two 90,000 cu m newbuilds should strengthen Tianjin Southwest’s position in the fast-developing ammonia shipping market, where demand is expected to rise alongside emerging clean-fuel projects and long-haul ammonia trades.
Last year, multiple owners placed their bets on the VLAC newbuilds as global trade of low-carbon ammonia is expected to witness a significant surge in the coming years. However, some analysts had pointed to potential vessel oversupply fears due to insufficient ammonia volumes to transport in the mid-term and that these ships would initially trade in the LPG market.
