Recently, Hengli Heavy Industry has achieved further success in the international shipbuilding sector, securing orders for two 306,000 deadweight ton VLCCs and six 114,000 deadweight ton LR2 product tankers.
According to an announcement released on the evening of November 17 by Guangdong Songfa Ceramics Co., Ltd., the parent company of Hengli Heavy Industry, the two VLCC orders were placed by a “well-known European shipowner” and are scheduled for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the second quarter of 2028, with a total contract value of approximately $2-3 billion USD (about RMB 14.22-21.32 billion). The six 114,000 deadweight ton product tanker orders were placed by an “internationally renowned shipowner” and are planned for sequential delivery in 2027, with a total contract value of approximately $4-6 billion USD (about RMB 28.43-42.65 billion).
For reference, Clarksons data shows that the current newbuilding price for a 315,000-320,000 deadweight ton VLCC is about $126 million USD (approximately RMB 897 million), slightly lower than the $129 million USD from the same period last year. The newbuilding price for a 113,000-115,000 deadweight ton LR2 tanker is about $75 million USD (approximately RMB 533 million), slightly lower than the $78 million USD from the same period last year.
Songfa shares pointed out that the newly contracted 306,000 dwt VLCC is an internationally mainstream large crude oil carrier type, featuring large loading capacity, strong endurance, and high operational efficiency. This ship type is designed to balance route adaptability and loading flexibility, can efficiently match the loading and unloading equipment at major global crude oil ports, and can meet the demands of transoceanic long-distance crude oil trunk line transportation and large-scale transport from major oil fields to refineries. It is a crude oil carrier that aligns with the latest international tanker design concepts and meets the current international shipping market’s demand for large-scale, low-carbon transportation.
The contracted 114,000 deadweight ton crude /product tanker is an internationally mainstream medium-sized crude /product tanker type, possessing the core characteristics of large loading capacity, ample tank volume, and green energy efficiency. This ship type is designed to balance route adaptability and cargo loading flexibility, can efficiently match the loading and unloading equipment at most global crude oil and product oil ports, and can meet the demands of regional trunk line transportation, refinery raw material supply, and transoceanic medium-to-long haul transportation. It is a high-quality ship type that conforms to the latest international tanker design concepts and satisfies the current shipping market’s need for efficient, low-carbon transportation.
The signing of these orders is of extraordinary significance for Hengli Heavy Industry. On one hand, it will further consolidate Hengli’s leading position in the high-end tanker order market and enhance the brand’s recognition and influence in the international market; on the other hand, it will also bring considerable economic benefits to Hengli Heavy Industry, promoting the company’s continuous development and growth in the shipbuilding sector.
In the future, Hengli Heavy Industry will continuously improve its technical capabilities and construction standards, providing customers with more high-quality and efficient ships, and strive forward towards the goal of becoming a global leader in the ship manufacturing industry.
It is understood that the predecessor of Hengli Heavy Industry, STX Dalian, was once China’s largest foreign-invested shipyard, possessing the largest single shipyard in Northern China. In 2022, responding to the national call, the Hengli Group established Hengli Heavy Industry Group, investing 2.11 billion RMB to successfully acquire the long-idle former STX Dalian assets through auction, aiming to fully build a world-class high-end shipbuilding base. In January 2023, the first phase of Hengli Heavy Industry’s “Ocean Factory” achieved full operation in just 150 days, and the second-phase project—the “Future Factory”—achieved production within 5 months in January of this year. In September of this year, the Hengli Heavy Industry Cooperation Innovation and Offshore Technology Industrial Park commenced construction in Changxing Island, Dalian.
As of now, Hengli Heavy Industry has commenced construction on over 60 ships and holds a backlog of approximately 170 orders, scheduled for production through 2029. Once all Hengli Heavy Industry series projects reach full production capacity, they will enable the annual construction of over 150 ultra-large vessels and the production of 180 marine engines, including G95 main engines and models below, while achieving full coverage of LNG, LPG, methanol, and ammonia dual-fuel capabilities. It is set to become the world’s largest single-site shipbuilding base with the most comprehensive supporting facilities.
