Following the previous order for 10×1800TEU feeder vessels, SITC International recently returned to Huanghai Shipbuilding to place an order for 4×2700TEU container ships.
On August 4, SITC International announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, SITC Shipowning Limited, entered into a shipbuilding contract with Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. on August 2. According to the contract, Huanghai Shipbuilding agreed to build 4×2700TEU container ships for SITC International, with each vessel priced at a maximum of $38.18 million, bringing the total maximum cost to $152.7 million (approximately RMB 1.096 billion).
For reference, Clarksons’ data shows that the current newbuilding price for a 2900TEU container ship is about $45 million, a 7% increase from $42 million during the same period last year.
Under the shipbuilding contract, the first vessel in the series will be delivered by December 31, 2027, the second by March 31, 2028, the third by May 31, 2028, and the last by July 31, 2028.
SITC International noted that the company is a leading shipping and logistics enterprise in Asia, providing integrated transportation and logistics solutions. The construction of new vessels will enable the group to expand its owned container fleet to meet growing operational demands.
It is understood that SITC International is headquartered in Hong Kong, with business operations covering container liner shipping, ship management, ship brokerage, international freight forwarding, ship agency, customs declaration and inspection, LCL cargo consolidation, supply chain management, specialized logistics, warehousing, container yards, terminals, logistics automation and informatization, intelligent equipment, and other fields.
According to Alphaliner statistics, SITC International’s fleet currently operates 122 container ships, including 103 owned vessels and 19 chartered vessels, with a total capacity of approximately 190,000 TEU, ranking 14th globally. Additionally, SITC International has 14 newbuildings under construction totaling 28,800 TEU, accounting for 15.2% of the existing fleet.
SITC International’s collaboration with Huanghai Shipbuilding began in 2022, when SITC ordered up to 10×1800TEU container ships from Huanghai Shipbuilding. Last year, SITC signed another contract with Huanghai Shipbuilding for 4+6×1800TEU container ships, with the six optional vessels being confirmed and activated between October last year and April this year, bringing the cumulative order count to 10.
Excluding the latest order, Clarksons’ data shows that Huanghai Shipbuilding currently holds a total orderbook of 80 vessels with 2,193,850 dwt, including 34 container ships, 16 general cargo ships, 15 multipurpose vessels, 10 chemical tankers, 4 open-hatch bulk carriers, and 1 other vessel, with deliveries scheduled through 2028.
