Singapore-based large bulkers specialist Winning International Group has returned to Hengli Shipbuilding for another round of very large ore carrier newbuildings, securing two more 325,000 dwt vessels to support its West Africa–China trade.

Newbuilding sources say the latest contract follows the company’s order last year for six ships of the so-called WinningMax class, with deliveries of that series beginning in 2026. Pricing for the new pair, set to arrive in 2027 and 2028, has not been disclosed. Earlier units were reported at around $116m apiece.

Winning operates one of the biggest bulker fleets in Singapore with more than 100 ships, over 50 of which it owns. The company is the world’s largest bauxite carrier and ships more than 50m tonnes annually from Guinea to China.

The WinningMax series, classed by both the China Classification Society and DNV, comes in at nearly 330 metres in length. The vessels are methanol-ready with 12,000-cu-m fuel tanks, and the company says they will cut energy use per tonne-mile by almost 50% compared with conventional capes.

The new order highlights Winning’s drive to expand its West Africa supply chain as demand for Guinean bauxite keeps climbing. The trade has grown rapidly, rising from about 2% of global seaborne volumes in 2015 to more than 8% in 2025, fuelled by China’s growing alumina refinery capacity and the surge in long-haul shipments from Guinea. The additional VLOCs will support Winning’s plan to field a dedicated bauxite fleet of 10 vessels in the 325,000 dwt class within the next two years.