A bulk carrier manufactured by Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipbuilding Co Ltd embarked on its crucial trial voyage on Oct 10. This voyage is the final step before it undergoes the approval process for customs clearance and export, which is scheduled for later this month.

The vessel, with a cargo capacity of 82,000 metric tons, is set to become the largest bulk carrier exported from Taizhou in East China's Zhejiang province.

It measures 229 meters in length, 32.26 meters in width, and 20.35 meters in height and represents the latest fourth-generation Kamsarmax bulk carrier developed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute. The vessel cost $35 million to build and complies with a range of future maritime regulations on energy saving, emission reductions, and environmental protection, thereby reaching an international advanced level.

Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipbuilding Co Ltd, a leader in Taizhou's shipbuilding industry, has been accelerating its expansion into overseas markets by introducing new products. Ye Min, general manager of the company, stated that "Currently, our tanker orders are booked until mid-2025, comprising of four domestic orders worth a total value of 400 million yuan ($54.8 million) and four export orders to Singapore valued at approximately $60 million. Additionally, there are two bulk carriers to be exported this year, with a total value of around $50 million."

Zhang Yan, head of Taizhou State-owned Haidong Shipyard, also expressed optimism about the market this year, revealing, "We exported a tanker to the United Arab Emirates earlier this year and will export another one in November, with sales exceeding 600 million yuan. As the market rebounds, we will continue to focus on overseas markets and have received orders worth $75 million from the Middle East and Southeast Asia."

The shipping market has seen a clear rebound, with foreign orders for bulk carriers, container ships, chemical ships, and other vessel types experiencing growth. According to Taizhou Customs, the city's 13 shipbuilding enterprises exported various types of vessels worth a total of 850 million yuan from January to August. This represents a 2.6-fold increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the national and provincial levels for the same period.