French container line CMA CGM has signed firm shipbuilding contracts for eight mid-sized containerships with Chinese shipbuilder Hengli Heavy Industry, reports London's Lloyd's List.

The firm contract covers eight 6,000 TEU vessels, with deliveries scheduled for 2029. The vessels are expected to follow a design developed by the Marine Design and Research Institute of China. The Marseille-based carrier already operates six vessels based on this design, which feature conventional fuel systems but are ammonia-ready.

In addition to the latest order, CMA CGM is set to charter a further 10 vessels of the same class from Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping. While the fuel type for the eight new vessels remains undisclosed, the French carrier has heavily favored liquefied natural gas propulsion in recent years. The company holds the largest newbuilding orderbook among global liner operators, with 160 ships on order.

For Hengli Heavy Industry, securing CMA CGM as a customer enhances a backlog of more than 60 containership newbuildings amassed over the past three years. The yard has secured orders for at least 130 vessels across multiple shipping sectors since the beginning of 2026.

The Chinese company was revived from the bankrupt STX Dalian shipyard and resumed operations in January 2023. It recently overtook South Korea's Hanwha Ocean to become the third-largest shipbuilding group in the world. The shipbuilder confirmed plans to raise US$1 billion through a share issuance to support its expanding orderbook, which includes a new...