The Dongjiang Free Trade Port Zone (DFTP) in Tianjin has cemented its position as a global maritime finance leader, celebrating the leasing of its 1,000th vessel during a ceremony on Wednesday. The milestone marks the Chinese mainland’s entry into an elite group of ship leasing hubs worldwide.
The landmark project involves a Singapore-built floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, backed by $1.8 billion in total investment. Nearly $1.2 billion of this sum was secured through innovative leasing arrangements, showcasing DFTP’s growing influence in offshore energy infrastructure financing.
Shi Jinfeng, a DFTP representative, described the deal as a "transformative moment" for cross-border collaboration. It stands as the mainland’s largest syndicated leasing project to date, involving multiple international partners and underscoring Tianjin’s role in bridging global capital with maritime development needs.
Specializing in high-value asset financing, DFTP now handles over 90% of the mainland’s cross-border leasing for ships and offshore engineering equipment. Analysts note this achievement reflects China’s expanding capabilities in supporting global trade networks and green energy transitions through financial innovation.
