CMA CGM tied to mega US$2.6Bn newbuilding deal for 12 LNG-fuelled container vessels

On 23 January, the South Korean shipbuilder announced a US$2.6Bn order, citing an undisclosed European shipping company as the buyer. Shipbroking sources have linked CMA CGM to this order, with vessels scheduled for delivery through December 2028.

A couple of weeks ago, MB Shipbrokers reported that a European-based liner operator had approached shipyards in China and South Korea for a series of 18,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels, with multiple sources connecting CMA CGM to this inquiry.

According to Alphaliner, the world’s third-largest liner operator is running a newbuilding programme for 72 vessels, totalling a capacity of 1.12M TEU. This represents the second-largest orderbook within the liner sector, only behind MSC, which has 132 ships under construction.

Alphaliner data reveals the French operator’s on-the-water owned and chartered-in fleet currently consists of 662 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 3.86M TEU, holding a 12.3% market share.

Industry trends

CMA CGM’s new order marks the first newbuilding contract signed by a top-10 liner operator in 2025, following a record year for ordering container vessels. Last November, Hapag-Lloyd made headlines with a US$4.0Bn order for a series of ammonia-ready ships, boasting a combined capacity of 312,000 TEU. In December, Maersk disclosed a significant deal for 20 LNG dual-fuel vessels, with a total capacity of 300,000 TEU.

MB Shipbrokers and Clarksons reported that new orders for container vessels reached 4.40M TEU in 2024. Both shipbrokers noted shipping companies opted for larger vessels last year. According to MB, tonnage below 4,400 TEU accounted for only about 110,000 TEU, equivalent to 35 vessels. Additionally, Clarksons highlighted liner companies committed over US$38.0Bn in orders, accounting for 72.0% of TEU ordered.

For confirmed deals this year, a Hong-Kong based shipping company has ordered three 4,800-TEU container vessels with an option for one more at China’s Wuhu Shipyard, in a US$200M deal. Meanwhile, a German owner has reportedly signed a contract for two conventionally-powered 1,900-TEU ships with options for two more at the Chinese shipyard Huangpu Wenchong, with each vessel costing around US$32M.