- China Leads with $255 Billion Fleet, Dominates Bulker and Container Sectors.
- Japan Falls to Second Place Despite Fleet Value Growth of 12%.
- Greece Maintains Third Position, Boasts Highest Value Tanker Fleet.
China has surpassed Japan to become the world’s biggest shipowning nation by asset value, its fleet now totalling $255 billion according to VesselsValue, as of January 2025. This shift is significant as it marks the first time that the ranking of the global shipping dynamics changes within a year, reports Shipping Telegraph.
China Takes the Lead in Global Fleet Value
“The fact that China owns the most valuable bulker and container fleets at $68.4bn and $63.5bn respectively, has contributed to their leading status, particularly as values for both sectors have firmed over the last year,” said Rebecca Galanopoulos, senior content analyst. China also holds the largest tanker fleet, comprising 1,764 vessels with a combined value of $47.9 billion.
Japan Slips to the Second Place
Japan has risen to second position while fleet value increased from $206.3 billion in 2024 to $231.3 billion by the beginning of 2025, a growth of 12 per cent year over year. Large portions of investment in the bulker sector have been added to nearly 60 vessels.
Notably, bulker values were at 15-year highs throughout 2024, adding to the overall fleet value of Japan. Although it comes in second place, Japan still leads in various categories such as LNG vessels, LPG carriers, reefers, and vehicle carriers.
Greece Retains Third Spot
Greece retains third position both in total fleet value and number of vessels. Although China has more tankers, the tanker fleet in Greece is valued at $71.3 billion, surpassing that of China by $23.3 billion.
“Over the last few years, various geopolitical circumstances, such as the conflict in the Red Sea area and the ongoing Russian sanctions, have resulted in a boost to ton-mile demand,” said Galanopoulos. Greece also boasts the second-largest LNG fleet, with 143 vessels valued at $32.4 billion.
Switzerland Returns to Top 10
Switzerland has returned to the top 10 shipowning nations with a fleet value of $68 billion. This is on the back of firming container values, driven by improved market sentiment and continued investments from MSC.
Germany Falls in Rankings but Increases in Fleet Value
Germany’s global ranking has fallen to 10th place for the second consecutive year, decreasing by nine slots from ninth position this year. The value of the German fleet, however, has increased steeply to around $27.7 billion up from $17.8 billion in a total increase of around 55.6%. Germany continues being the second-largest fleet in terms of count but fifth in terms of money from container vessels.
Some Notable Ranking
The United States, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Norway constitute the top shipowning nations. Greece, as mentioned earlier with high-value tankers, keeps its lead on select categories; China’s stranglehold at the top of the leaderboard in bulkers and containers affirms this as well.
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Source: Shipping Telegraph
