Global Times reports that during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), its shipbuilding industry solidified its dominance in global markets — now accounting for over 60 % of new global ship orders and nearly half of the world’s corrected gross tonnage.
China’s Shipbuilding Leadership: Scale, Innovation, and Supply Chain Strength
China’s shipyards captured 64.2 % of new global orders in this period, up 15.1 percentage points from the prior plan cycle, while its shipbuilding output rose to 51.7 % of global production. Its share of corrected gross tonnage — a measure blending ship size and value — grew to 47.2 %.
This dominance is attributed not only to strong state support but also to a mature, vertically integrated industrial chain and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Digitalization, automation, and green development further amplify China’s competitive edge in the shipbuilding sector.
On the innovation front, China delivered several “firsts” in recent years: an intelligent aquaculture vessel of 100,000 tons, a 150,000-ton enclosed salmon farming ship, and a domestically designed ocean drilling ship capable of 11,000 m depth — benchmarks in deep-sea capabilities.
Navigating Headwinds and Future Prospects
Despite the global shipbuilding market cooling into September, Chinese shipyards maintained their lead: in that month alone, they secured orders for 69 new ships totalling 1.42 million compensated gross tons, or about 40 % of the global new order book.
However, external pressures persist. The imposition of U.S. port service fees on Chinese-owned or operated vessels is viewed by analysts as a protectionist move with potential to distort trade flows rather than bolster U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
While challenges are real, China’s shipbuilding outlook remains relatively optimistic — buoyed by structural depth, global partnerships, and a trajectory toward integrating greener and smarter technologies.
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Source: Global Times
