Automobile exports enter a new stage of "independent shipping"
The rapid rise of new energy vehicles is continuously amplifying its driving effect on the upstream and downstream industries. The continuous increase in automobile exports has made it difficult to find a single ship for automobile transportation, which is the main transportation capacity, and the rent has skyrocketed. As a result, automobile companies are competing to buy ships to go abroad, driving the accelerated development of the shipbuilding industry. At the same time, shipping companies are also exploring new models of automobile shipping. With the joint efforts of multiple parties, automobile exports are accelerating into a new stage of "independent shipping". 
The surge in exports of new energy vehicles has given rise to new opportunities for "domestic vehicle self transportation"
The BYD EXPLORER NO.1 (BYD Pioneer 1), carrying over 5000 new energy vehicles, recently held its maiden voyage at the Xiaomo International Logistics Port in Shenzhen Port. It will sail to the ports of W ü risingen and Bremerhaven in Europe, and is the first ship of BYD's "sailing fleet".
BYD EXPLORER NO.1 is a specialized automotive transport vessel built by Chinese company CIMC Raffles for the international mainstream shipping company Zodiac Shipping, and leased by the shipowner to BYD. The ship was delivered at Longkou, Shandong on January 9th and arrived at Yantai Port in the afternoon of the same day, loading the first batch of 1389 new energy vehicles; On the morning of January 14th, it stopped at the Xiaomo International Logistics Port and began loading the second batch of over 4000 new energy vehicles.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, the export volume of automobiles in China was 5.221 million in 2023. With the surge in China's automobile exports, it is difficult to find a single ship of automobile transport ships as the main transportation capacity.
According to data from Clarkson Research, a shipping research firm, from August 2020 to the end of November 2023, the one-year rent for a 6500 standard parking car transport vessel has skyrocketed from $10000 per day to $115000 per day, an increase of more than 10 times.
In recent years, Chinese car companies such as BYD, Chery, and SAIC have formed fleets to further enhance their automobile export capabilities, accelerating their entry into a new stage of "independent shipping".
On January 23, 2023, Guangzhou Shipbuilding International announced the successful implementation of two orders for BYD dual fuel vehicle transport ships; Subsequently, Chery Group announced that it would establish its own fleet; In the past two years, Anji Logistics, a subsidiary of SAIC Group, has ordered multiple large automobile transport ships with over 7000 vehicles from Jiangnan Shipyard
In recent years, the concentration of the global automotive shipping market has remained high, and car companies in countries such as Japan and South Korea have deeply linked their transportation links. According to the research institute of China Merchants Bank, as of November 2021, the top ten automobile transportation and shipping companies in the global transportation capacity accounted for 59.42% of the market share, with Japanese, Korean, and European shipowners as the main players. The transportation capacity of Japanese and Korean automobile transportation ships is mostly closely linked to domestic automobile manufacturers.
Before the rise of the new energy vehicle market in China, Chinese car companies did not focus on building their own transportation fleets. Only a few car companies such as Anji Logistics operated their own fleets, which resulted in lower overall transportation capacity compared to foreign shipowners. According to analysts from Clarkson Research, the current operating capacity of Chinese automobile transport ships is 39 ships with a total of 115000 parking spaces, accounting for only 2.8% of the global fleet size.
There is a serious mismatch between China's cross-border automobile transportation capacity and its automobile export capacity. With the development of China's shipbuilding industry and the entry of high-speed growth in automobile exports, the trend of "China Shipbuilding, China Buying" and "National Automobile Self Transportation" is becoming increasingly evident.
At present, Chinese shipyards have taken on the vast majority of new orders for automotive transport ships worldwide. Taking Guangzhou Shipbuilding International as an example, its automotive transport ship orders have been scheduled for 2028. According to data from Clarkson Research, the proportion of orders placed by Chinese shipowners in current global automotive transport ship orders is as high as 21.1%. After the delivery of new ship orders, the proportion of automobile transportation ship capacity in the Chinese fleet will significantly increase, and it is expected to jump to the fourth place in the world.
Industry experts believe that high cost-effectiveness is the key to domestic car overseas competition, and shipping costs greatly affect terminal selling prices. Local shipping companies can provide more economical transportation solutions through long-term close cooperation with car manufacturers.
Xie Xiaowen, an expert member of the New Technology Promotion Branch of the China Association of Transportation and Communications, said that car companies are competing to buy ships and set sail, which is a manifestation of the continuous development and growth of China's automotive industry, as well as the accelerated pace of internationalization. For car companies, buying a ship to go abroad can ensure stable export business, reduce transportation costs, and ensure timely delivery of products to overseas customers. (Reporter Wang Fengliang Xizhi reports from Shenzhen)
"Green cars" ride on "green ships" and China's intelligent manufacturing "group" set sail
On January 17th, the 7600 berth LNG dual fuel roll on/roll off ocean going ship "SAIC Anji Shencheng" began its maiden voyage from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Haitong International Automobile Terminal. About 5000 new cars from Chinese independent brand "Zhizao" and some construction machinery will take this "giant" to Europe.
Recently, an MG car is about to set sail on the 7600 berth LNG dual fuel roll on/roll off ocean going ship "SAIC Anji Shencheng" to Europe. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Rui
The inaugural voyage of SAIC Anji Shencheng signifies that China's automotive industry is achieving "national ship and national manufacturing, national vehicle and national transportation" in ocean transportation, and also means that "China Smart Green Vehicles" will be able to regularly sail on "China Smart Green Ships" in the future.
"The dual fuel design means that ships can use LNG, low sulfur oil, or traditional light diesel during navigation, reducing carbon emissions by about 30% compared to traditional car roll on/roll off ships. Taking a round-trip trip to Europe as an example, it is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 1300 tons." said Jin Qi, General Manager of SAIC Anji Logistics.
It is worth noting that this 200 meter long, 38 meter wide, and 13 story ocean going giant ship has 7600 parking spaces and a displacement of over 40000 tons. It not only uses green power, but is also specially designed for loading "green cars".
Zhao Aimin, Secretary of the Party Committee of SAIC International, said that in recent years, China's automobile exports have been steadily increasing, and automobile exports have gradually entered a new stage of "national manufacturing and national transportation". Chinese automobile manufacturers are also investing in building more production bases overseas. Currently, SAIC's factory construction work in Europe is being promoted.
The latest released data shows that in 2023, SAIC Group's overseas sales reached 1.208 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 18.8%; By 2025, the overseas sales target is planned to reach 1.5 million vehicles. (Reported by journalist Zhou Rui from Shanghai)
Ro/Ro ships with "full cargo capacity" switch to bulk carriers and open up new channels for sea transportation by car
Recently, 30 lithium-ion battery new energy buses were successively lifted onto the Hong Kong bulk carrier "Hanhe" at Xiamen Modern Port and transported to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is the first batch of lithium-ion battery new energy buses exported by sea by bulk carriers in Xiamen this year.
In recent years, the development momentum of China's new energy vehicle industry has been strong, and domestically produced new energy vehicles have been favored by the international market, leading to a significant increase in demand for sea freight exports. As an important maritime hub for the export of new energy products in Fujian Province, Xiamen Port exported 85000 new energy vehicles and 38400 TEUs of lithium-ion batteries last year, both of which reached historic highs.
Wang Lei, the head of the Maritime Supervision Department of the Dongdu Maritime Department of Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration, told reporters that traditionally, car sea freight exports are generally carried by roll on/roll off ships. However, due to the increasing number of new energy vehicle exports, it is difficult to find space on roll on/roll off ships and the transportation capacity is insufficient. In order to deliver export vehicle orders on time, many new energy vehicle companies are turning their attention to bulk carriers with sufficient market capacity. Xiamen is exploring the feasibility of using bulk carriers to transport new energy vehicles, and has formulated a comprehensive guarantee service plan for the shipment of new energy passenger cars and bulk carriers, which aims to promote the safe and legal participation of ships in the sea transportation of lithium battery new energy vehicles, and to open up new channels for sea export.
In order to ensure the safety of sea transportation for new energy vehicle bulk carriers, Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration focuses on inspecting whether ships hold valid certificates of suitability, whether the state of charge of lithium batteries is maintained in the best controllable range, and opens up a "green channel" for enterprises, prioritizing the approval of ship entry and exit ports, compressing ship waiting time, and improving customs clearance efficiency.
Chen Xu, the third level chief clerk of the Hazardous Management and Pollution Prevention Department of Xiamen Maritime Safety Administration, said that Fujian's new energy industry has the advantage of integrating production, transportation, and sales. While doing a good job in supervising and ensuring the sea transportation of new energy products, the maritime department will continue to save transportation costs for enterprises to explore overseas markets, help optimize the business environment of Xiamen Port, and promote high-quality development of the shipping economy. (Reported by Zhou Yi from Fuzhou)
Editor in Chief: Yu Lu
