A.P. Moeller-Maersk has taken its newbuilding orders in China past the 50 mark and its spending on new ships past the $1.5bn with orders for four product tankers.

The order is being split with the Dalian and Guangzhou shipyards with each taking two of the as-yet unspecified tankers. A statement from Moeller said the contracts signed in Beijing today were "firming up" orders.

Since