HMM inks $1.5bn order for eight containerships at HD Hyundai

South Korean shipping giant HMM is accelerating its fleet expansion with a KRW 2 trillion (about $1.5bn) investment to secure eight containerships.

HMM has placed a newbuilding order for eight 13,000 teu containerships with HD Hyundai.

All eight newbuildings will be built to LNG dual-fuel specifications, with the total contract value amounting to approximately KRW 2 trillion.

Under the contract, the vessels will be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho, with deliveries scheduled to begin sequentially from 2029.

HMM plans to deploy the newly acquired 13,000 teu vessels on its flagship FIM (Far East-India-Mediterranean) service route to enhance operational efficiency on its core trade lanes.

In addition to this order, HMM has acquired four feeder vessels through resale agreements, comprising three 2,800 teu ships and one 1,700 TEU ship. HMM said the feeder vessels will be integrated into emerging regional feeder networks linked to major hub ports, reinforcing the company’s ‘Hub & Spoke’ network competitiveness.

With this latest vessel acquisition, HMM’s total investments this year in fleet expansion, logistics infrastructure, and future technologies have reached approximately KRW 6 trillion.

Moving forward, HMM said it intends to maintain