Taiwan’s Yang Ming and Wan Hai have each ordered six dual-fuel container ships despite weaker financial results in 2025, reports London’s S&P Global.
Yang Ming said it will acquire six 13,000-TEU LNG-powered vessels to replace older tonnage and chartered ships. The carrier aims to operate 124 vessels with 1.25 million TEU capacity and secure a 3 to 3.5 per cent global market share by 2032.
The new ships will complement Yang Ming’s 10,000-TEU fleet and serve east-west trades, including Asia-North America, South America and the Mediterranean. Directors have approved the plan in principle, with details such as shipyard and delivery schedule to be finalised.
Wan Hai confirmed orders for four 6,000-TEU LNG-powered ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding worth up to US$328 million. It also contracted Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for two 9,200-TEU methanol-powered vessels valued at up to $224 million.
The carrier has an order backlog of 28 ships totalling 345,200 TEU for delivery through 2030.
BIMCO chief shipping analyst Niels Rasmussen said the combined orders add to a global backlog of more than 1,350 ships with 11.8 million TEU capacity. Dual-fuel LNG ships account for 6.4 million TEU, while methanol-powered vessels make up nearly 1.7 million TEU.
Yang Ming reported a 73 per cent fall in net profit to $538 million in 2025, with revenues down 26 per cent to $5.2 billion. The carrier cited weaker trans-Pacific demand due to tariffs, while European and intra-Asia trades remained stable.
Wan Hai posted a 28 per cent drop in net profit to $1 billion and an 8 per cent fall in revenues to $4.5 billion. Evergreen Marine, Taiwan’s largest carrier, is due to release its annual results on Friday.
