Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 29, South Korea's leading container shipping company HMM has placed orders for twelve large containerships this week as part of its ongoing fleet expansion.

On Monday, HMM signed a contract with HD Hyundai for eight 13,400 teu LNG dual-fuel vessels valued at $1.46 billion. Days later, the carrier awarded Hanwha Ocean a $730 million contract to construct four additional 13,000 teu ships, with delivery scheduled for 2029.

The new orders follow HMM's entry last month into the select group of carriers operating over one million teu of container capacity. According to Alphaliner data, HMM’s current fleet stands at 1,016,180 teu, representing a doubling of operated capacity in the past five years.

In September 2024, HMM announced an ambitious growth strategy extending to 2030, backed by a KRW23.5 trillion ($17.48 billion) investment programme. The plan targets nearly doubling the company's container fleet while tripling its tanker and dry bulk tonnage by the end of the decade.

The latest vessel orders align with this long-term roadmap, enhancing HMM's ability to serve major global trade lanes with modern, efficient tonnage. The inclusion of LNG dual-fuel capability in part of the newbuild programme also supports the carrier's commitment to progressively reducing emissions across its operations.