The stalled spin-off of Sinochem International’s chemical tanker and tank container subsidiary ­appears to be back in motion after the government-approved bidder made a sudden reappearance in Shanghai.

The visit comes at a time when politics is putting limits on the company’s freshly announced newbuilding order for domestic chemical tankers.

Coal billionaire Du Jiangtao’s mid-October visit to Sinochem ­International came as a surprise to company executives.