The young company is betting on Yangzhou Wanlong to expand its fleet and strengthen routes to the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent
Beijing – The newly established Chinese company Chenxin Shipping, founded in 2023 and based in Shanghai, has ordered up to eight new container ships from the Yangzhou Wanlong Shipbuilding yard, which has been known so far for feeder ships under 1,500 TEU.
The order includes two 1,900 TEU Bangkokmax-type vessels, designed to operate in the river port of Bangkok thanks to their shallow draft, and two 4,350 TEU ships, with options for another four units (two of each type). Deliveries are scheduled for 2028, although the financial details of the agreement have not yet been made public.
The choice of the Wanlong shipyard, active since 2007 with 36 deliveries to its name, reflects a growing trend among new Chinese operators to turn to less well-known yards, as the country’s major shipyards are already saturated until 2029 and charge prices 25-30% higher than emerging yards.
Chenxin Shipping, which operates via slot agreements on routes to the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and the Red Sea, launched a service in 2024 between Chinese ports, Tianjin, the Red Sea, and Turkey. The company has announced expansion plans for new routes to India, Pakistan, the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa, aiming to consolidate its global logistics network.
