Top bauxite carrier Winning International invests in new for West Africa-China trade

Singapore-based Winning International Group, a renowned Chinese Capesize specialist, is set to enhance its seaborne trade from West Africa to China with a significant new order. The company has commissioned six very large ore carriers (VLOCs) at an estimated total cost of nearly $700 million, a substantial investment that underscores their commitment to the industry.

This new order follows Winning's previous acquisition of two VLOCs from CSSC's Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding yard last September. The latest sextet has been ordered from Hengli Heavy Industry, with industry insiders indicating that deliveries will commence in the second half of 2027. Each vessel is priced at approximately $116 million.

Winning owns and operates one of Singapore's largest bulk carrier fleets, with almost 100 vessels, of which 51 are owned. The company is currently the world's top bauxite carrier and is mainly engaged in developments in Guinea. 

Generally, VLOCs are said to be far more environmentally sustainable than smaller ships with highly economical power plants that will burn only 97 tonnes of fuel per day at a service speed of around 14 knots.

The methanol-ready WinningMax ore carrier, developed by Winning Group in collaboration with CSSC Shanghai Ship Design & Research Institute, boasts impressive dimensions of 329.99 meters in length and 60 meters in width. These vessels are designed to meet the stringent standards of Phase III of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). Compared to Baltic Capesize vessels, the WinningMax carrier is expected to reduce energy consumption by nearly 50 per cent per nautical mile per deadweight.

Sun Xiushun, Chairman of Winning, said, “Signing of the newbuild contract marks the start of collaboration between Hengli and Winning. We will establish long-term cooperation with Hengli to build more large-size green vessels.”

Additionally, these carriers are built for future green operations, featuring 12,000 cubic meters of methanol fuel storage tanks, setting the stage for zero-carbon voyages using green methanol. In 2023, the Winning Group ordered two 325,000 dwt ore carriers from CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding.