46 PCTC newbuilding orders so far in 2026

Ro-roWith China's vehicle exports hitting new highs in the first half of the year, and PCTC charter rates also reflecting the demand for RoRo capacity, there has been a spurt in newbuilding activity, with 46 PCTCs contracted so far in 2026 (as of 15 August), most gaining favourable 2029 building slots.

In June, exports reached 1,037,000 vehicles, up 75% compared with June 2025. Exports for the first six months of 2026 reached an incredible 5,096,000 units, up by 65.5%, with NEVs taking a 46.2% share.

SFL has placed a single order with a very attractive 2028 delivery slot for a 7,000 CEU dual-fuel PCTC at the CIMC Raffles shipyard, understood to be long-term chartered to BYD Logistics. Zodiac has returned to CIMC Raffles with a follow-up order for six standard-design dual-fuel 7,000 CEU PCTCs, with EPS placing three contracts at both China Merchants Shipbuilding Jinling and Weihai yards — also follow-up orders to the DF 7,000 CEU ships they have built before, with a high level of sophistication including shaft generators, solar panels, battery packs and high-voltage shore power connections.

The price level for dual-fuel vessels of this 7,000 CEU size is understood to be close to USD 100 million.

Noticeable by their absence so far, the first-tier Chinese operators have been replaced by several Chinese newcomers who are prepared to order at yards with limited experience. The Yanfan Group, together with Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding, gained an order for two 5,700 CEU DF PCTCs, also designed by SDARI. The 13,500 dwt pair will be 190 metres long, with a 35.6 metre beam and 9.5 metre draft, and will feature eleven vehicle decks, of which three are liftable. With a lower service speed, they will be equipped with Everllence B&W 6S50ME-C10.7 GI EcoEGR main engines of 11,400 kW output.

This same design has been chosen by Jiangsu Runyang shipyard, which is reported to have signed a contract for four vessels of the class with Chinese owners. Another new order, for Hainan Chunlong International Shipping, was won by Jiangsu Kangping shipyard, based on a 5,000 CEU design from MARIC. This design is for a conventionally powered PCTC.

No.	CEU	Shipyard	Owner
2	7,600	Hyundai	Ray Car Carriers
2	3,000	CMS Jinling	UECC
4	1,380	CMS Jinling	K-Line (KESS)
1	7,000	CIMC Raffles	SFL
6	7,000	CIMC Raffles	Zodiac
2	5,700	Yangfan	Hainan Yanggang Hechuang Shipping
2	5,000	Jiangsu Kangping	Hainan Chunlong
4	5,700	Jiangsu Runyang	Zhongnan Shipping
2	4,200	Mawei	Neptune Lines
2	7,000	GSI	GCC
6	8,600	CMS Jinling	GCC
2	7,000	CMS Weihai	GCC
2	8,600	CMS Weihai	GCC
3	7,000	CMS Weihai	EPS
3	7,000	CMS Jinling	EPS
2	8,600	Xiamen	Sallaum Lines
1	8,600	CMS Jinling	Sallaum Lines