Chinese shipowners have scaled back their newbuilding activity significantly in 2025, reducing orders by almost half compared to last year. Despite the slowdown, China remains the world’s largest ordering nation, reflecting both its dominant shipbuilding capacity and its strategic role in the global maritime sector.
According to BRS Shipbrokers, the decline is seen as a temporary adjustment following the extraordinary surge in 2023–2024.
Sharp Decline in Dry Bulk Contracting
The first seven months of 2025 saw a sharp fall in dry bulk contracting, with both total vessel numbers and tonnage ordered well below the levels recorded a year earlier. Market analysts attribute this to an oversupply of tonnage already on order and cautious sentiment among shipowners amid shifting global demand.
Tanker Orders Fall Below Averages
BRS reported that tanker newbuildings also weakened during the period, with only 88 tankers of at least 34,000 dwt ordered between January and July 2025. This figure is considerably lower than both the five-year and ten-year averages. The majority of these were Suezmax tankers, but overall activity reflects what BRS described as a “rational pause” in ordering.
China Retains Global Leadership in Shipbuilding
Even though new orders fell compared with the record-breaking levels of 2024, China still dominates the global orderbook by market share. Data show that Chinese shipyards continued to lead in intake for the first seven months of 2025, although both the number of contracts and compensated gross tonnage declined significantly. This underlines China’s enduring influence in global shipping despite temporary slowdowns.
Impact of U.S. Maritime Service Fees
The Office of the United States Trade Representative recently announced a schedule of maritime service fees targeting Chinese-built and certain Chinese-owned or operated vessels, set to begin in October 2025. However, BRS noted that the reduction in Chinese orders this year is not directly tied to these measures, but rather a natural correction after an unusually high ordering spree in 2024.
About BRS Shipbrokers
Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS), founded in 1856 and headquartered in France, is one of the world’s leading shipbroking groups. Operating in more than 20 locations worldwide, BRS provides brokerage, market research, and advisory services across multiple shipping segments. Their analysis of 2025 shipbuilding trends highlights both cyclical adjustments and long-term dominance by China in the maritime sector.
While Chinese shipowners cut their newbuilding orders by nearly 50% in early 2025, they still retained the top position globally. The decline reflects a market correction following the exceptional order volumes of 2023–2024 rather than a structural downturn. With ongoing dominance in global shipbuilding, China is likely to continue shaping the future of maritime trade, even as new policy measures and shifting demand influence short-term activity.
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Source: Port News
