The Top 5 Ship Buyers in 2025 & 5 Newcomers Who may Surprise You
July 14, 2025
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In a year defined by volatility, environmental pressure, and shifting trade routes, ship buying activity has revealed both expected power players and surprising new contenders. Some names continue to dominate by sheer fleet size, while others are stepping in for the first time to secure tonnage, hedge against risk, or chase emerging logistics opportunities. Below, we break down the top 5 ship buyers of 2025 and 5 unexpected newcomers reshaping the global fleet map.
1️⃣ Chinese Shipowners and Leasing Giants (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- China now leads the world in both ship purchases and newbuild orders in 2025.
- State-backed players like ICBC Leasing and BOCOM are financing vessels across every major sector.
- Bulk carriers, tankers, containerships, and LNG vessels are all part of the mix.
- Alternative fuel capability, especially LNG and methanol, is a growing theme in their orders.
- Sale-and-leaseback deals allow Chinese firms to quietly control fleets operated by others.
- This buying surge strengthens China’s grip over global shipping flows and shipyard economics.
- Financing control gives Chinese lessors long-term leverage in fleet deployment decisions.
- More dual-fuel orders coming from Chinese yards this year, especially in mid-size tanker classes.
- Watch for partnerships with emerging market operators as China extends its logistics reach.
- If the market dips, expect another round of aggressive secondhand buying.
2️⃣ Greek Shipowners (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- Greek shipowners remain one of the most powerful forces in global shipping, though they’ve slipped behind China in overall buying volume this year.
- As of mid-2025, they are still the second-largest nationality for secondhand purchases, with strong focus on tankers and bulk carriers.
- Secondhand acquisitions dominate their strategy, especially in mid-aged Aframax and Suezmax tankers, and Ultramax bulkers.
- Selective newbuilding continues, focused on fuel-efficient designs and scrubber-fitted vessels when market conditions allow.
- Most deals are individually negotiated, reflecting the independent nature of Greek ownership across family groups and private companies.
- Greek buyers are highly opportunistic, stepping in when asset prices soften and pulling back quickly when markets overheat.
- Their ongoing influence helps stabilize ship values and maintains liquidity in the secondhand market.
- Several owners are repositioning fleets to capitalize on rerouted oil and grain flows due to global tensions.
- Watch for renewed buying if tanker asset prices fall in H2 2025.
- Expect continued consolidation of older tonnage as owners position for future regulatory shifts.
- New Greek-led private equity plays may emerge, blending traditional ownership with modern financing models.
3️⃣ MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- MSC remains the largest container line in the world and is still in expansion mode in 2025.
- They’ve acquired more than 70 secondhand containerships since early 2024, adding capacity at a scale unmatched by peers.
- Aggressively buying secondhand containerships in the 1,000 to 11,000 TEU range, especially vessels built post-2010.
- Targeting assets that can be quickly deployed without waiting for yard slots or delivery delays.
- Occasionally purchasing distressed or off-market ships at strategic pricing.
- By rapidly expanding fleet control, MSC is minimizing reliance on charter markets and gaining pricing flexibility on routes.
- Their secondhand spree has influenced boxship valuations globally and absorbed large portions of the resale market.
- This strategy helps MSC buffer against disruptions, reroute capacity, and maintain global dominance amid regional shifts.
- Keep an eye on whether MSC begins selling off older tonnage in H2 2025 to rebalance fleet age.
- Track their port investments, which often follow their vessel deployment patterns.
- If freight rates rebound, MSC’s lower acquisition costs may give them a competitive edge in pricing flexibility.
4️⃣ QatarEnergy (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- QatarEnergy is behind one of the largest LNG carrier procurement efforts in maritime history.
- In 2025, their combined orders have exceeded 120 vessels, with deliveries set to stretch into the next decade.
- All orders are focused on large-scale LNG carriers, including both standard and Q-Max sizes.
- Ships are being constructed in Korean and Chinese yards, often co-owned or managed by top-tier operators like MOL and Nakilat.
- Contracts are typically structured through long-term charters to support Qatar’s expanding LNG exports.
- This massive investment secures Qatar’s long-term LNG shipping needs amid rising global demand and route competition.
- By locking in yard slots and charter tonnage, QatarEnergy has limited availability for rivals seeking new LNG ships.
- It also helps position Qatar as a stable, long-haul energy exporter while tightening its grip on floating LNG logistics.
- Monitor if QatarEnergy expands orders to support future phases of the North Field expansion.
- Look for additional long-term charter agreements that link the vessels to European and Asian gas markets.
- Watch for pricing shifts in the LNG newbuild market as this program soaks up premium yard capacity.
5️⃣ CMA CGM (France) (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- CMA CGM continues to invest heavily in fleet renewal and environmental technology in 2025.
- The company placed one of the year’s largest single containership orders, reinforcing its position near the top of the global carrier rankings.
- Ordering dual-fuel LNG and methanol-ready megaships, including 18,000 TEU+ vessels.
- Many newbuilds are designed to meet or exceed upcoming EU ETS and IMO 2030 compliance targets.
- Fleet upgrades also include reefer-friendly designs and expanded feeder network capacity.
- By embracing alternative fuels, CMA CGM is positioning itself as a leader in low-emission shipping.
- The size and scope of their orders are influencing shipyard design trends and setting a benchmark for fleet sustainability.
- This aggressive approach is also a statement of intent in the race with Maersk and COSCO for global liner dominance.
- Future orders may include ammonia-ready ships as the company explores broader decarbonization strategies.
- Keep an eye on CMA CGM’s expanding logistics footprint, including its growing presence in air cargo and inland transport.
- Watch for shifts in regional deployment as the new megaships enter service from 2026 onward.
Top 5 Newcomers That May Surprise You
While traditional shipping powerhouses dominate the headlines, 2025 has quietly ushered in a new generation of buyers entering the market from unexpected corners. Some are state-backed, others are commercial disruptors, and a few have emerged out of pure necessity. These newcomers aren’t just filling gaps, they’re rewriting playbooks, acquiring fleets for entirely different reasons than legacy owners. Below, we spotlight five entrants shaking up the global order in ways few predicted.
1️⃣ Shadow Fleet Buyers (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- A rapidly growing network of opaque companies is quietly amassing hundreds of older tankers to move sanctioned Russian oil.
- Many vessels have shifted flags and ownership repeatedly, often acquired through cash sales well above scrap value.
- Mainly Aframax and Suezmax crude oil tankers built in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Often purchased from Western or Japanese owners off-market, then reflagged to jurisdictions like Gabon, Cameroon, or Mongolia.
- Little to no vetting on class compliance or emissions performance, the only priority is transport capacity.
- This shadow fleet now carries a majority of Russia’s crude exports, reshaping the global tanker trade map.
- It’s also distorting secondhand tanker values by creating artificial demand for ships that would otherwise be scrapped.
- Major operators must now compete with invisible buyers that don't follow conventional safety or emissions norms.
- Keep an eye on the evolving fleet of “unknown owner” tankers with obscure flag states and little AIS transparency.
- Insurance bans and compliance crackdowns may eventually pressure this network, triggering resale or regulatory fallout.
- If sanctions shift, many of these vessels may re-enter traditional trades or be abandoned entirely.
2️⃣ Chinese Automakers (e.g., BYD, SAIC) (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- China’s top electric vehicle makers are now buying ships to control their own logistics pipelines.
- Firms like BYD, SAIC, and Chery have placed dozens of orders for new car carriers in 2025, marking their first direct entries into ship ownership.
- Pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs), many of them dual-fuel and built in Chinese yards.
- Most vessels are in the 7,000–8,000 CEU range, aimed at servicing China-to-Europe and China-to-Middle East auto export lanes.
- Some deals are in partnership with COSCO and other state-aligned shipping firms, blending industrial and maritime expertise.
- By acquiring vessels directly, automakers are bypassing inflated charter markets and securing reliable capacity as exports surge.
- This vertical integration gives them long-term cost control and flexibility as China cements its status as the world’s largest auto exporter.
- The trend is also accelerating growth in China’s car carrier fleet, which now ranks among the top globally by active tonnage on order.
- Expect additional orders if EV exports continue rising, especially to new markets in Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa.
- Look for other manufacturers, possibly in Europe or South Korea, to consider similar logistics plays if charter markets tighten again.
- Follow which shipyards receive repeat orders, this could hint at preferred long-term alliances.
3️⃣ Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- After years of decline, BSC is mounting a national fleet revival with real orders placed in 2025.
- The corporation is targeting both new tonnage and expanded coverage across containers, bulk, and oil trades.
- Initial contracts include mid-sized container ships ordered from South Korean builders, a first for BSC’s fleet.
- Future acquisitions include bulk carriers and tankers, with a 22-ship expansion plan through 2030.
- Government financing and bilateral credit deals are helping fund this comeback effort.
- Bangladesh aims to reduce dependency on foreign carriers, especially for key exports like garments and fertilizers.
- The BSC revival also supports broader national ambitions to become a regional maritime and logistics hub.
- These moves could inspire other emerging economies to rebuild or expand their own flagged fleets.
- Watch how quickly BSC can turn orders into deliveries, execution pace will signal credibility to international partners.
- Monitor how Bangladesh adjusts port infrastructure to support this fleet growth.
- Expect diplomatic shipping cooperation with South Korea and possibly China as part of financing and build agreements.
4️⃣ Asyad Shipping (Oman) (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- Backed by Oman’s sovereign logistics strategy, Asyad is growing its owned fleet while modernizing its capabilities.
- The company now controls more than 80 vessels across oil, gas, dry bulk, and container sectors, with multiple newbuilds underway.
- Investing in crude and product tankers, LNG carriers, and modern bulkers with dual-fuel potential.
- Orders placed at major Korean yards, with a focus on high-efficiency, lower-emission tonnage.
- Some expansion also supports Asyad’s integrated supply chain offerings across ports and logistics zones.
- Asyad is positioning Oman as more than a flag state, it wants to be a regional hub for controlled tonnage and logistics execution.
- With Oman’s geographic access to both Gulf and Indian Ocean routes, Asyad’s fleet has strategic reach across key trade lanes.
- This growth puts pressure on nearby state-linked fleets (UAE, Saudi) to keep pace in both modernization and scale.
- Follow newbuild orders closely, especially any LNG or methanol-capable ships added to the pipeline.
- Track whether Asyad signs long-term charters with international energy majors or builds up its spot market presence.
- Watch for IPO-related disclosures if Oman expands private investment in the group post-fleet growth.
5️⃣ Private Entrants and Maritime Startups (expand)
🚢 Fleet Momentum
- A growing number of small firms, logistics startups, and sustainability-driven ventures are entering ship ownership in 2025.
- These players are typically acquiring one to four vessels, but their motivations and models mark a clear shift from traditional ownership.
- Feeder container ships, small tankers, multipurpose vessels, and experimental low-emission platforms.
- Notable examples include startups investing in sail-powered RoRo ships, electric coasters, and small LNG-fueled tonnage.
- Some are backed by venture capital or aligned with carbon-conscious supply chains.
- This wave signals a decentralization of ship ownership and a shift toward more flexible, niche-based models.
- While small in scale, these entrants are testing business models that larger owners may adopt or acquire.
- They’re also pushing innovation in ship design, fuel selection, and digital performance tracking.
- Monitor shipyard contracts involving first-time buyers, these often reveal early-stage disruption or regional ambitions.
- Expect hybrid ventures between shipping and tech sectors as climate regulations tighten.
- Some of these startups may scale quickly or be absorbed by larger fleets seeking innovation pathways.
From established giants like MSC and Greek shipowners to emerging forces like Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and Chinese automakers, 2025 has proven that ship buying is no longer limited to familiar faces. The global fleet is being reshaped not just by volume, but by motive, energy security, trade independence, decarbonization, and even vertical integration are all driving fresh activity. Whether you're a broker, builder, investor, or fleet operator, understanding who’s buying and why is no longer optional. It’s a competitive advantage.
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