China’s Nanjing Tanker has signed up for a new 9，500 cum ethylene carrier， expanding its reach in the gas shipping market.

The order， placed through subsidiary Shanghai Changshi Shipping at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng， is valued at about $51m， with delivery scheduled for the first half of 2028.

The Shanghai-listed outfit said the vessel would optimize its ethylene fleet capacity and consolidate its role in the liquefied ethylene gas (LEG) trade. The order is structured as a related-party transaction， since both the shipyard and the owner fall under the China Merchants Group umbrella.

Nanjing Tanker， which operates a fleet of more than 70 ships， has been active in fleet renewal. Over the past 12 months， it has committed to a mix of MR， LR1 and LR2 tanker newbuilds at domestic yards. The latest order marks a move into higher-value gas shipping， positioning the company to capture demand growth in the petrochemical sector.

Founded in 1993， Nanjing Tanker went through a leadership change earlier in 2025 when Lei Ding， vice president of China Merchants Energy Shipping and former head of Hong Kong Ming Wah Shipping， took over as chairman.