China's Yangfan Group has rung in the new year with an order of a single product/chemical tanker, its first newbuilding contract in five years.

The shipbuilding group said on Thursday that domestic shipping company Henghui Shipping had signed up for a single 25,000-dwt type 2 chemical tanker that will be delivered in 2021.

The deal, which includes one option vessel, was signed on 1 January.