The Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Corporation (SWS) under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) delivered a 114,000-ton oil tanker to a Greek shipping company Thursday, marking the first new vessel delivery of 2025 from Chinese shipyards.
The new ship, named "Seascout," belongs to the latest generation of refined oil tankers independently designed and developed by the SWS, capable of transporting 114,000 tons of refined oil.
The vessel is equipped with an eco-friendly propulsion system, and features upgraded hydrodynamic performance and energy efficiency. It also meets the latest international emission standards, positioning it as a more environmentally responsible option for global shipping.
The new tanker has been well-received in the market, with more than 20 orders currently on hand for this model.
Looking ahead, Chinese shipyards are set to deliver a range of large vessels in 2025, including car carriers, container ships, and liquefied natural gas carriers. Additionally, the second domestically-built large cruise ship, Adora Flora City, is expected to reach key milestones, such as hull completion and its first float-out.
Chinese shipyard delivers 114,000-ton oil tanker
Merchandise for the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is in high demand, with collector items selling at "unprecedented" rates following its blockbuster release.
In Shanghai, fans of the movie have packed into toy stores to buy collector figurines that come in "blind boxes". The items have sold out quickly, but that has not stopped customers from waiting for stocks to replenish.
"The pre-sale has already started, so I came here especially to queue for the pre-sale registration. I'd be willing to wait even if it takes two to three months to get the products. I love to buy the blind boxes because the movie is quite good and I have a hobby of collection," said a consumer.
According to salespeople, one of the most popular Ne Zha 2 items are collector cards.
"Yesterday, we just replenished seven boxes of 'Ne Zha 2' cards. By now, we've sold around four boxes. This is quite unprecedented, as 'Ne Zha 2' is, so far, the only IP (intellectual property) that has sold for four boxes of cards in one day," said Lin, a staff member at a collectible card store.
Meanwhile, online shoppers have also been eager to purchase publications, stuffed toys and even snacks related to the film.
"Our e-commerce platform has set up a special section for 'Ne Zha 2' merchandise. In the first 10 days since the movie's release, its co-branded products have sold for over 12 million yuan (about 1.64 million U.S. dollars), with the sales of its figurines and blind boxes growing by nearly 50 times. The sales volume of its three co-branded dairy products has also surpassed five million yuan since its screening," said Jaidar Tabus, a staff member of the purchase and sales department with an e-commerce platform.
Ne Zha 2's success suggests that the Chinese market still contains untapped potential for capitalizing on future hits, with industry insiders pointing out that merchandising may comprise up to 70 percent of the total revenue.
Hit animated film Ne Zha 2 drives massive merchandise sales