Taiwan’s Chinese Maritime Transport (CMT) has set out to expand its dry bulk fleet with up to four newcastlemax newbuilds at a domestic yard.

The owner of 14 bulkers spread across capsize and newcastlemax segments has contracted CSBC Corporation for a pair of 210，000 dwt units and secured options for two more newbuilds.

While delivery dates have yet to emerge， CMT said that CSBC， which recently also landed a major boxship deal with fellow carrier Wan Hai Lines， is pricing the newcastlemaxes between $76m and $79.8m.

CMT， which owns and operates its bulker fleet through Singapore and Hong Kong subsidiaries， last time ordered newbuilds in 2021， selecting newcastlemax specialist builder Qingdao Beihai for four vessels， including the 2024-built China Vista (pictured).