CHINESE builder Hengli Heavy Industry has secured contracts for another five bulk carriers from European owners, valued at more than Yuan1.5bn ($210.7m), continuing its recent surge in newbuilding activity.

The orders, announced via the company’s official social media, were placed by Eastern Mediterranean and Seanergy Maritime, including four kamsarmax and one capesize bulk carrier. According to the builder, the newbuildings, which are the core types for Hengli, are designed to meet owners’ operational needs and current market trends.

This deal brings Hengli’s total reported contracts since September up to 35 newbuildings, including 13 very large crude carriers, four containerships and 14 dry bulkers.

Currently, more than 70 newbuildings are under construction at Hengli, with its production schedule extended to 2029, placing the builder among the global major shipbuilders by orderbook and capacity.

As its orderbook continues to expand, Hengli’s listed vehicle Songfa announced on October 18 that its subsidiary, Hengli Shipbuilding (Dalian), planned to invest Yuan2.7bn to develop a green, high-end equipment manufacturing project, which forms part of the Yuan3.5bn fundraising package disclosed by Songfa in August.

The project, located in the Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Industrial Park in Changxing Island, Dalian, is close to Hengli’s “Ocean Factory” and “Future Factory”.

In July 2024, Hengli announced Yuan9.2bn investment for the Future Factory, with an additional Yuan2bn for supporting facilities. Construction began on August 15, 2024, and just five months later, the facility commenced operations in January 2025.

Once all projects are completed, Hengli expects its Dalian base to achieve an annual output value of Yuan150bn, creating the world’s largest shipbuilding complex at a single site.