With a September deadline to sell older vessels to domestic Chinese traders looming, Greece’s Vrontados managed to sell a 15-year old supramax duo to an owner in China.

Brokers say the 50,300-dwt Christina L and Maria L (both built 2003) are going to Chinese buyers for $8m each.

Vrontados managers were not immediately available for comment.

The traditional company, controlled by the fourth generation of the Los family, is known to be in fleet renewal mode.