On 8 June, Huaxia Financial Leasing issued a public shipyard solicitation notice for the construction of 6 x 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

According to the notice, qualified domestic Chinese shipyards will be shortlisted to participate in the yard selection process for a 6-vessel programme structured as 2+2+2. The scope covers design, plan approval, construction, inspection, delivery and related work.

Several details are worth noting:
The vessels must comply with the latest rules and regulations, including EEDI Phase III and Tier III requirements.

Delivery slots are required in 2029 or earlier.

The price cap is set at no more than USD 79.5 million per vessel.
Only domestic shipyards with Newcastlemax construction capability are eligible.

Based on the price ceiling, the potential total value of the project could reach up to USD 477 million.

This is still at the shipyard solicitation and selection stage, and not yet a signed shipbuilding contract. But it is another important signal that Chinese financial leasing houses remain active in large-scale shipping asset investment, particularly in dry bulk tonnage tied to long-term commodity transportation demand.

For Chinese yards, this will also be a test of available 2029-or-earlier slots, Newcastlemax track record, pricing discipline and green-compliant design capability.