South Korean liner operator Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC) has placed its first-ever newbuilding order in China, contracting six 3,100 TEU containerships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in Guangzhou.
The contracts were signed with China Shipbuilding Trading also involved in the agreement. The vessels, with a combined capacity of 18,600 TEU, will be built to Huangpu Wenchong’s in-house-developed Honghu feeder design, modified to meet KMTC’s operational requirements.
The shipbuilder has not disclosed the contract value, delivery schedule or propulsion specifications.
The deal marks KMTC’s first newbuilding contract with a Chinese shipyard and its first order with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The South Korean carrier has traditionally relied on domestic shipbuilders, particularly HD Hyundai, for fleet expansion.
Earlier this year, KMTC was linked to an order for up to six 1,800 TEU containerships at HD Hyundai yards, reportedly valued at KRW 372.4 billion (approximately $258 million). Deliveries of those vessels are scheduled between August 2027 and June 2028.
KMTC has also been expanding its presence in the larger containership segment. Last year, the carrier contracted four 13,000 TEU vessels at HD Hyundai in a deal estimated at around $600 million. The investment supported its return to the transpacific market after a 40-year absence and the expansion of services connecting Asia with Mexico.
For Huangpu Wenchong, the latest order strengthens its international feeder containership portfolio. In September, the CSSC-controlled shipbuilder secured an order for four vessels of the same 3,100 TEU Honghu series from Thailand-based Regional Container Lines (RCL). The latest order adds to RCL’s existing commitments, bringing its orderbook at the yard to 16 vessels across three sizes.
The KMTC contract highlights the growing role of Chinese shipyards in the global containership newbuilding market as liner operators diversify fleet investments and expand regional and international services.