Another Chinese car carrier sets record, putting spotlight on vehicle export ambitions

Two new car-carrying ships made in China, including one that can hold a record number of vehicles, embarked on their maiden voyages on Thursday, underscoring the scale of the country’s vehicle export ambitions.

With a maximum capacity of 9,500 vehicles, Anji Ansheng is the world’s largest car carrier, according to owner SAIC Anji Logistics, the logistics subsidiary of state-owned carmaker SAIC Motor.

The previous capacity record – 9,200 cars – was held by BYD Shenzhen, which set sail for the first time from Suzhou late last month, bound for Brazil.

Anji Ansheng, a roll-on/roll-off vessel that set sail from Shanghai, is carrying around 7,000 China-made vehicles to Europe.

SAIC Anji Logistics said it now owns a fleet of 35 car carriers, including 15 ocean-going ships.

It said it expects its international shipping fleet to grow to 22 vessels next year, covering routes to key export markets including Mexico and countries in western Europe, the wider Mediterranean region, South America, Southeast Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.

China has emerged as the world’s top car exporter in recent years, with exports surging 23 per cent year on year to 6.41 million vehicles last year, according to customs data.

The other car carrier that began its maiden voyage on Thursday, the roll-on/roll-off vessel Yuan Hai Kou, was carrying around 4,000 Chinese-made vehicles when it left Guangzhou bound for Mediterranean countries including Greece, Turkey, Italy and Tunisia. It has a maximum capacity of 7,000 cars.

Its owner, COSCO Shipping Car Carriers, now operates a fleet of 20 vessels, with plans to expand it to 30 vessels next year.