Swiss commodities trader Mercuria is going deeper into shipownership with an order for four kamsarmax bulk carriers at Wuhu Shipyard in China. The newbuildings are 82,000 dwt each.
The vessels will be tied into Mercuria's global logistics system, marking another step away from its long-standing reliance on chartered tonnage toward a more asset-backed shipping model.
Mercuria currently controls around 40 vessels, but recent activity shows a clear push to lock in capacity through owned ships across both dry bulk and tanker segments. The Geneva-based group — founded by Marco Dunand — is positioning owned tonnage as a hedge against freight-rate swings.
The deal underscores how Chinese yards continue to attract kamsarmax newbuilding demand from global commodities trading houses. Wuhu Shipyard's orderbook is set to expand into the 2027–2028 delivery window thanks to high-volume contracts of this kind.
Key Takeaways:
1. Mercuria ordered four kamsarmax bulk carriers (82,000 dwt) at Wuhu Shipyard.
2. The order accelerates a shift from a charter-heavy model to asset-backed shipping.
3. Mercuria already controls around 40 vessels.
4. The Geneva-based group founded by Marco Dunand uses owned tonnage as a hedge against freight-rate swings.
5. Chinese yards continue to attract kamsarmax newbuilding demand from global commodity traders.
