NLNG eyes new mid-scale LNG vessels from China

Nigeria LNG Ltd (NLNG) is negotiating with China’s Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding to acquire three 74,000-m³ mid-scale LNG carriers, with options for three additional vessels, as part of a new phase of its fleet modernisation programme.

The ships, set to be delivered from 2029, will operate under NLNG’s Bonny Gas Transport subsidiary.

The move comes amid a subdued global LNG carrier order book. Clarksons data shows a current fleet of 779 large LNG carriers, with 278 vessels on order—around 36 per cent of the fleet.

New contracting in 2025 has slowed sharply, with orders in the first 10 months totaling 3.1 million m³, down 76 per cent year-on-year.

NLNG’s planned acquisitions represent a rare addition to this year’s LNG carrier intake.

China remains the dominant player in shipbuilding, accounting for 59 per cent of global contracting by compensated gross tonnage and holding 61 per cent of the world order book.

BRL reports indicate that more LNG carriers are expected from NLNG in future, reinforcing China’s key role in LNG vessel construction and maintaining the sector’s significant forward exposure.