Shanghai: ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L and S) today announced a newbuilding order for an additional four next-generation LNG carriers valued at approximately US$900 million (AED3.3 billion). Each vessel will have a capacity of 175,000 m³, enhancing the efficient transport of growing global gas production to meet rising demand worldwide. The vessels, slated for delivery in 2029, will be constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, China.
According to Emirates News Agency, the contract was signed in Shanghai during a ceremony attended by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO; Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to China; Hassan Al Nowais, Undersecretary of Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Wang Guoqiang, General Manager of CSSC; and Kou Guangwu, President of Wanhua Chemical. The signatories were Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L and S, and Xiao Wenlin, Chief Executive Officer of Jiangnan Shipyard.
Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi commented on the order, stating that it reflects confidence in the robust fundamentals of the LNG shipping market as global demand for natural gas continues to increase. He emphasized that ADNOC L and S is investing in a next-generation fleet to efficiently connect key supply sources with high-growth demand centers, supporting the global energy transformation.
This latest order increases ADNOC L and S' total LNG newbuild program to 18 vessels, highlighting its commitment to establishing one of the most advanced and efficient LNG shipping fleets globally. The company has already received six 175,000 m³ LNG carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard, valued at US$1.2 billion (AED4.4 billion), with five vessels already deployed on contracts of up to 15 years with ADNOC Gas, providing stable and predictable revenues since May 2026.
The four additional next-generation LNG carriers are anticipated to be deployed on long-term charters, enhancing revenue visibility and supporting stable energy flows to global markets.
Xiao Wenlin highlighted the continued trust ADNOC Logistics and Services places in Jiangnan Shipyard, following previous orders of six LNG carriers, nine VLECs, four VLACs, and an earlier order of five VLGCs, signifying a long-standing partnership and a shared commitment to delivering world-class vessels.
During Dr. Sultan Al Jaber's visit to Jiangnan Shipyard, ADNOC L and S marked the delivery of a carrier, the first of four Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs). In 2024, AW Shipping, a joint venture between ADNOC L and S and Wanhua Chemical Group, placed a US$1.9 billion (AED7 billion) order for four VLACs and nine Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs), with two expected for delivery in 2025. The visit concluded with a naming ceremony where Rayan Al Shami, Business Excellence Analyst at ADNOC L and S, served as the vessel's 'Godmother'. With a capacity of 93,000 cubic meters, the carrier is among the world's largest ammonia carriers.
Moreover, eight additional LNG carriers are under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, with an investment volume of approximately US$2.5 billion (AED9.2 billion). These vessels are scheduled for delivery starting in 2028 and are all contracted on 20-year time charters to ADNOC Gas.
Including its 50 percent share of the AW Shipping newbuild program, ADNOC L and S has committed over US$5 billion to fleet expansion since 2022. The company's investment decisions are driven by long-term customer demand and contracted revenues, providing earnings visibility while supporting sustainable shareholder value.
The new vessels will bolster ADNOC L and S' capacity to deliver LNG to customers worldwide, furthering ADNOC's broader LNG growth strategy and its recently launched global LNG marketing and trading platform, aiming for 47 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of combined marketable LNG by 2035.