South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports that French shipping company the CMA CGM Group has placed an order for twelve 18,000TEU container vessels in a series to be built by South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
The contract has a total value equivalent to approximately US$2.58 billion. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed before the end of 2028.
This is the second time in less than six months that CMA CGM has placed orders for containerships with HHI. In July 2024, CMA CGM ordered six 15,500TEU vessels from HHI, while another six will be built by sister company HD Hyundai Samho.
All 12 ships have a total contract price equivalent to US$2.66 billion and are scheduled for delivery by June 2028.
The 18,000TEU ships to be built by HHI will be fitted with dual-fuel engines that can also run on LNG.
The formal signing of the contract between CMA CGM and HHI comes after the awarding of a letter of intent in December 2024.