China players plan $2.5bn push to build 21 large car-carriers

· Logistics · China

Chinese shipowners and carmakers are making a concerted push to expand car-carrier fleets as vehicle exports rise, The Loadstar reported. Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers, automaker BYD and SAIC Anji Logistics plan to jointly invest about $2.5bn to build 21 car-carriers with capacity of 11,000 car equivalent units each at domestic shipyards. Cosco Shipping is also placing orders for additional vessels. The expansion targets the growing need to move Chinese-made vehicles to overseas markets, a trade that has strained global car-carrier capacity in recent years. New tonnage of this size would add significant deep-sea vehicle transport capacity and shift more of the trade toward Chinese-owned and Chinese-built fleets.

Why it matters：The order wave adds deep-sea vehicle capacity tied to Chinese exports, reshaping competition among car-carrier operators and shipyards globally.

Key points

  • The planned investment is about $2.5bn for 21 vessels.
  • Each ship is designed for 11,000 car equivalent units.
  • Cosco Shipping is ordering up to additional car-carriers.

Sources (original reporting)

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