Oman’s Asyad Shipping has taken its first step into the kamsarmax segment, agreeing to acquire two modern bulkers as it continues to build out its dry bulk platform.

The Muscat-listed owner said it has struck a deal to buy two 2023-built 85,000 dwt vessels for a combined $72.7m, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The move marks a new segment entry for the state-backed owner, which has so far focused its dry bulk exposure on capesize and ultramax tonnage.

Chief executive Ibrahim Al-Nadhairi said the purchase supports the company’s broader push to scale up its dry bulk operations.

“As we expand our dry bulk capacity, we continue to strengthen our operational capabilities to deliver more efficient solutions to our customers,” he said, adding that the company is positioning itself to meet growing global demand.

Following the deal, Asyad Shipping’s owned dry bulk fleet will rise to 16 vessels, with a combined capacity of around 3m dwt, making it one of the largest operators in the segment across the region.

The acquisition builds on a steady run of fleet additions. In September last year, the company moved for three secondhand capesize bulkers, paying roughly $70m per ship in a deal linked to tonnage from 2020 Bulkers.

Asyad Shipping is part of Oman’s broader logistics push under Asyad Group and has been expanding across segments as it looks to grow its global footprint. The company, which listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange in early 2025, raised about $333m through its IPO to help fund a wider $2.7bn investment plan focused on fleet renewal and expansion. That programme includes adding around 30 vessels to a fleet that already numbers close to 90 ships.