Industry sources
indicate that BYD has been in discussions with shipyards over potential
newbuildings, with vessel configurations of around 8,600 CEU and 9,200 CEU
reportedly under consideration. The final number of vessels, ship size and
shipyard allocation have yet to be decided.
Reports naming China Merchants Industry as the builder of 10 vessels for
delivery between 2027 and 2029 have therefore not been confirmed. The development highlights BYD’s continued
push to secure dedicated maritime capacity as its vehicle exports expand
globally. The company is increasingly looking at a combination of owned and
long-term chartered tonnage to support its international automotive trade. Separately, Guangzhou Shipyard International
has secured contracts for 10 LNG dual-fuel PCTCs of around 8,200 CEU, valued at
more than $1 billion. Those vessels are being ordered by Israeli shipowner Ray
Car Carriers and are not a direct BYD order. The market is now watching the scale and
structure of BYD’s next fleet expansion, including whether the company opts for
direct ownership, long-term charters or a combination of both.