Winning International Group is reinforcing its grip on the long-haul bauxite trade. The Singapore-based bulker specialist has returned to Hengli Shipbuilding for another round of very large ore carrier (VLOC) newbuilds. The company has secured two more 325,000 dwt vessels to support its fast-growing West Africa-China operations.
Industry sources say the order follows last year’s booking of six WinningMax-class ships, with deliveries beginning in 2026. The latest pair will join the fleet in 2027 and 2028. The price has not been disclosed yet. Earlier units were reported at around USD 116 million each.
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Winning already runs one of Singapore’s largest bulker fleets, with over 100 ships, more than half owned. It is also the world’s biggest bauxite carrier, moving over 50 million tonnes annually from Guinea to China. This dominance explains the urgency behind the new tonnage.
The WinningMax series is classed by both China Classification Society and DNV. Each vessel stretches nearly 330 metres in length and is methanol-ready with 12,000 cu m fuel tanks. The company says the ships will cut energy use per tonne-mile by almost 50 per cent compared with conventional capes. This aligns with China’s rising preference for low-emission long-haul carriers.
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Guinea’s role in the global bauxite trade has surged. It accounted for just 2 per cent of seaborne volumes in 2015. It will exceed 8 per cent in 2025 as Chinese alumina refiners expand capacity. Winning plans to field a dedicated fleet of 10 VLOCs in the 325,000 dwt class within two years. The new order keeps the company ahead of tightening supply-chain and emissions expectations.
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