SHIP FINANCE
Chinese leasing houses have played an increasingly significant role in the global ship finance market over the past decade. Today, there are over 80 leasing houses in China offering ship finance, with 31 of them, by our count, providing financing in US Dollars. As an experienced financial advisor, HIT Marine works with all Chinese leasing houses actively pursuing transaction opportunities. We guide shipowners through every step of structuring financial or operating leases, starting from identifying the right counterpart to facilitating termsheet negotiations and contract signing.
Email: shipfinance@hitco.com.cn
NEWBUILDING
With China accounting for two-thirds of the global newbuilding orderbook, thousands of newbuilding orders have been placed at Chinese shipyards in recent years. HIT Marine offers newbuilding brokerage services to shipowners looking to build vessels in China. Over the past two decades, HIT Marine has successfully concluded more than 100 newbuilding transactions across various segments, including bulk carriers, feeder containerships, multi-purpose vessels, crude and product tankers, as well as offshore vessels.
Email: newbuilding@hitco.com.cn
SHIP INVESTMENT
Over recent years, private and institutional investors in China and Southeast Asia have shown increasing interest in shipping investments. Leveraging its deep expertise in shipping cycles, HIT Marine supports clients in identifying lucrative ship investment opportunities through sale-and-leaseback brokerage services and comprehensive market analysis. Its expertise spans the dry bulk carrier, product and chemical tanker, and MPP/heavy lift carrier sectors. Additionally, HIT Marine occasionally contributes direct equity investments to carefully selected projects.
Email: snp@hitco.com.cn
ABOUT US
Founded in 2001 by Dr. Li Sheng, HIT Marine is a boutique shipbroking firm specializing in Newbuilding Brokerage and Financial Advisory services, with a focus on Chinese Leasing soltuions.
With its headquarters in Shanghai and a branch office in Singapore, HIT Marine is deeply rooted in Asia while maintaining a global perspective in its operations. Backed by a high-caliber team with extensive shipping expertise, the firm delivers exceptional service to clients worldwide.
MARKET
ClarkSea Vs. China Newbuilidng Price Index (CNPI)
Published by Clarksons, ClarkSea Index measures average earnings accross all vessel sectors. In August 2016, ClarkSea Indext touched bottom since 1990 with average earnings accross all vessel sectors dipping to USD 7,364 per day. China Newbuilding Price Index (CNPI), assessed and compliled by a panel consisting of 21 international and local broker houses primarily focused on China's Newbuilding market, also reached its historical low around that period of time.
Growth of China Leasing
Market
As of end of 2025, The number of leasing houses in China offering ship financing in US dollars nearly doubled over the past three years, reaching a total of 34, of which 19 are backed by financial institutions, i.e. state-owned banks. 26 out of 34 lessors are actively seeking transaction opportunities with foreign shipowners, while the remaining ones focus exclusively on domestic clients.
Comfortable Margin Levels
Among the 26 Chinese lessors actively pursuing transactions with foreign shipowners, 9 are highly competitive, offering margins between 150 and 200 basis points (bps). This places them on par with major Western banks. The majority of competition is concentrated in the 200-300 bps range. At the higher end, only 2 lessors target margins above 300 bps (specifically 300-350 bps), which still represent a significantly more affordable option compared to alternative debt funds.
China Shipbuilding Monthly Report
Throughout year 2025, The China Newbuilding Price Index (CNPI) declined from 1,129 points to 1,108 points (as of November 2025), down 1.9% year-on-year, reflecting a broad market correction. The dry bulk carrier composite index (CNDPI) came off by 3.35% year-on-year to 1,125 points, the oil tanker composite index (CNTPI) decreased by 1.34% year-on-year to 1,250 points, and the containership composite index (CNCPI) slighly dipped by 0.5% year-on-year to 1,250 points.
HIT Maine is a panel broker of CNPI.
Subscribe to our Monthly China Shipbuilding Report
Frequently Asked Questions about Chinese Leasing
Intreview Advantage Tankers CFO
November 2025
Join our Managing Partner of Ship Finance, Mr. Berlin Li, for his informative interview with Mr. Mehmet Mat, CFO of Advantage Tankers, at the Marine Money event in Shanghai. In this Interview, they delve into Advantage Tankers' growth journey, specifically examining the critical support of Chinese leasing and providing a balanced analysis of its key advantages and challenges .
Presentation at Marine Money Shanghai
November 2024
Join our Managing Partner of Ship Finance, Mr. Berlin Li, at the Marine Money event in Shanghai on November 6, 2024, as he presents an expert analysis of the Chinese leasing market's development and outlook. His session will provide key insights into current market trends, growth drivers, and China's distinctive competitive advantages in global ship finance.
Interviewed by Shipping & Finance
October 2024
Mr. Berlin Li was invited to deliver a presentation on the Chinese leasing market at the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade, and Finance—the very institution from which he earned a distinguished master's degree in 2012. His insights at this prestigious event also garnered an exclusive interview with Greece's Shipping & Finance newspaper.