20 vessels! Yangtze River Shipbuilding receives another order from a returning customer

Japanese shipowner Lepta Shipping returns to Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

According to TradeWinds, Lepta Shipping has ordered two 82,500-dwt Kamsarmax bulk carriers from Yangzijiang Mitsui Shipbuilding. The order was placed several months ago but has not been publicly announced. The new vessels will use traditional fuel, be equipped with scrubbers, and meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III NOx emission standards and the Phase III Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements. Delivery is scheduled for 2028.

The specific price of this order has not been disclosed. For reference, Clarksons data shows that the price of a new 82,000-84,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier is currently US\$36.5 million, a 3% decrease from US\$37.5 million in the same period last year.

Clarksons points out that market uncertainty, extended delivery times, and the US Trade Representative's (USTR) policies on Chinese-built ships have all impacted the newbuilding market and newbuilding prices.

According to International Ship Network, Lepta Shipping is a joint venture between Nissen Kaiun, one of Japan's largest privately-owned shipping companies, and Mitsui & Co. Including this latest order, the company has now ordered a total of 20 Kamsarmax bulk carriers from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

Lepta Shipping is a "long-standing customer" of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, having previously collaborated on the construction of a series of 82,000 DWT, 180,000 DWT bulk carriers and 66,000 DWT bulk carriers. According to Clarksons data, Lepta Shipping currently has 36 newbuildings under construction at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, including 20 Kamsarmax bulk carriers, 8 LPG carriers, 6 container ships, and 2 50,000-dwt chemical tankers.

It is understood that Yangzijiang Mitsui Shipbuilding was established as a joint venture between Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Mitsui E&S Holdings, Mitsui & Co., and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, and officially commenced operations in October 2019. Due to Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding's decision to completely withdraw from the shipbuilding market, its merchant ship business and subsequent orders were transferred to Yangzijiang Mitsui Shipbuilding and its Japanese partner, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.

According to Yangzijiang Shipbuilding's plans, Yangzijiang Mitsui Shipbuilding will focus on tankers, chemical tankers and other liquid cargo vessels, and high-tech, high value-added clean energy vessels such as LNG, LEG, and LPG carriers. The goal is to become a "large-scale green clean energy vessel" production base.

According to Clarksons data, Yangzijiang Mitsui Shipbuilding currently has a total order book of 54 vessels with 3.15 million dwt, including 2 LEG vessels, 4 VLACs, 15 LPG vessels, 6 MR vessels, and 27 bulk carriers, with deliveries scheduled to continue until 2029.

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