China’s shipbuilding industry has been on a remarkable winning streak this year, securing over 90 percent of new orders for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) worldwide and cementing its dominance in the global market.
On May 20, a 115,000-ton oil tanker built by CSSC Dalian Shipbuilding’s Shanship Heavy Industries was formally delivered to its client — more than 160 days ahead of the contracted delivery date. The same shipyard currently has two 300,000-ton VLCCs under simultaneous construction. These massive vessels can carry over two million barrels of crude oil in a single voyage, with per-barrel transportation costs more than 40 percent lower than those of small- to mid-sized tankers, making them highly attractive to global buyers.
Marketing staff at the company told reporters that tankers have become the dominant category in new orders across many Chinese shipyards this year, not just their own.
Peng Guisheng, Head of Marketing at CSSC Dalian Shipbuilding, noted that the tanker segment has seen a concentrated surge in demand. So far this year, newly signed and effective tanker orders have reached over six million deadweight tons, with 42 vessels scheduled to begin construction before year’s end. He attributed the influx of global orders to China’s world-leading capabilities in tanker design and construction, as well as its clear competitive edge in build quality, delivery timelines, and pricing.
The trend reflects a broader shift in the global shipping industry, as shipowners increasingly turn to Chinese yards to meet growing demand for large-capacity, cost-efficient crude oil transportation.
Source: Sputnik News, May 21, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260521/1071444201.html