China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) marked an historic achievement by signing China COSCO Shipping Corporation to construct 87 vessels valued at an estimated RMB 50 billion (approximately USD 7.1 billion) under an exclusive contract signed December 8, 2025 in Shanghai.
COSCO Mega-Order: Details and Scope
COSCO is committed to modernizing its fleet and increasing global competitiveness through this agreement, with its focus being to expand COSCO's portfolio with various vessel types that include ultra-large bulk carriers, ultra-large container ships, VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers), multipurpose heavy lift ships (MPHLSs), medium range tankers (MR), grain carriers, small container ships and other specialty vessels.
Construction will take place across six CSSC shipyards: Jiangnan Shipyard, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Industry Group, Huangpu Shipyard International, CSSC Zhoushan Shipyard and CSSC Guangzhou Huangpu Shipbuilding. Around RMB 47 billion of the contract value will be settled through cross-border Chinese Yuan transactions highlighting innovative financing structures.
Industry analysts view this order as groundbreaking; one of the largest single shipbuilding contracts ever awarded. It reflects both COSCO's fleet renewal strategy and CSSC's expertise in developing advanced vessels to meet today's ever-increasing demand for greener, technologically superior ships.
CSSC's Strategy for Advanced Vessels
Ma Yunxiang, Assistant President of CSSC and Chairman of Marintec China - one of the world's premier maritime conferences being held from December 9-12 in Shanghai 2025 - unveiled ambitious plans for specialized vessels including large cruise ships, deep-sea operations platforms and nuclear-powered ships in keeping with Beijings goal to establish China as an industrial power.
CSSC's capabilities are illustrated by projects like Adora Flora City, mainland Chinas second domestically constructed cruise ship that will be launched next year and Mengxiang, the countrys first indigenous deep-sea drilling vessel. Ma emphasized CSSCs commitment to creating advanced ships which are greener, smarter and better capable of withstanding extreme environments.
Chinas Shipbuilding Landscape.
Although CSSC saw its global order share decrease to 65% of deadweight tonnage for the first three quarters of 2025 (from 75% a year earlier), this COSCO deal reinforced their dominance. Chinese shipyards ordered 10.5 million tonnes in the three months through September, 61% less than year-on-year - prompting a move towards new-energy and advanced vessels.
As China navigates geopolitical tensions - including US-China port fee disputes resolved in October 2025 - CSSC will find their position strengthened against competitors like South Korean yards while contributing to stabilizing global shipbuilding supply chains.
CSSC and COSCO are joining forces in an unprecedented partnership to accelerate production across various segments and demonstrate Chinas long-term commitment to maritime technology and sustainability.