In 2025, China maintained its position as the world’s largest shipbuilding nation for the 16th consecutive year, continuing to lead in key industry indicators. Experts noted that this highlights China’s resilience in the face of Washington’s efforts to curb Beijing’s rise in the sector.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China ranked first globally in ship completions, new orders, and outstanding orders last year, underscoring the scale and resilience of an industry that has become central to global trade and supply chains.
In 2025, China’s ship completions reached 53.69 million deadweight tons, a year-on-year increase of 11.4%, accounting for 56.1% of global output. By the end of December, outstanding orders had grown 31.5% year-on-year to 274.42 million deadweight tons, a record high, representing 66.8% of the global total.
Last year, China’s new ship orders reached 107.82 million deadweight tons, capturing 69% of the global market share. Although China’s share of global new ship orders declined from 74.1% in 2024, it still maintained a clear lead over other countries.
A vice president of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry stated: “In 2025, China’s shipbuilding industry achieved remarkable results, with all three major indicators exceeding expectations. Chinese shipyards entered 2026 with an order backlog of three to four years, keeping production lines busy.”
He noted that artificial intelligence and digital systems are increasingly being integrated into ship design, manufacturing, and operations, helping to improve efficiency and drive the shipping industry toward greener and smarter production models.
A professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing commented: “China continues to maintain its leading position in areas such as green energy and smart shipping. These structural advantages make China’s shipping industry more resilient in the face of external pressures.”
In October, Washington imposed port fees on Chinese ships, aiming to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. Beijing immediately took countermeasures by imposing special port fees on vessels from the United States.
He added: “Any single country’s attempt to reshape the global maritime industry through administrative measures or sanctions is unlikely to change its fundamental market dynamics. More economies will come to realize that disruptions to trade rules can cause significant losses to the shipbuilding and maritime industries.”
