Pingtan Minghui Shipping has entered the tanker sector for the first time， ordering a pair of LR2 product carriers at a Chinese shipyard.

The Fujian-based owner has contracted Taizhou JianXing Heavy Industry to build two 114，000 dwt tankers through its subsidiaries Tianjin Minhui Shipping and Tianjin Afera Shipping， according to company disclosures.

The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2028， with the first ship due in the second quarter and the second expected before the end of the year.

Designed primarily for long-haul transportation of refined petroleum products， the LR2s will measure 248.8 m in length and feature a design draft of 13.5 m. Both vessels are expected to be registered under the Liberian flag upon delivery.

The move marks a significant diversification step for Pingtan Minghui， which has so far focused exclusively on the dry bulk market.

The company currently operates a fleet of four bulk carriers ranging from supramax to capesize tonnage and has largely expanded through secondhand acquisitions in recent years.