China Shipbuilding Industry Report 2025: Global Leader in Completions, Orders, and Exports
China Dominates Global Shipbuilding Market in H1 2025
Overview of China’s Shipbuilding Industry Performance
China’s shipbuilding industry continued to outperform globally in the first half of 2025. According to data from the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), China led the world in:
* Shipbuilding completions
* New shipbuilding orders
* Shipyard order backlog
Despite economic uncertainty and fluctuating global demand, Chinese shipyards maintained strong momentum and global trust.
Steady Growth Backed by Structural Upgrades
Between January and June 2025:
* Completions reached 24.13 million deadweight tons (DWT) (↓ 3.5% YoY)
* New Orders totaled 44.33 million DWT (↓ 18.2% YoY)
* Order Backlog surged to 234.54 million DWT (↑ 36.7% YoY)
The increase in order backlog reflects a robust and resilient industry. Many shipowners, particularly those seeking long-term cooperation, continue to favor Chinese shipbuilders for their production efficiency, technical reliability, and consistency in on-time delivery.
China’s Expanding Role in the Global Market
In 2025 H1, China’s global share in shipbuilding was notable:
* Completions: 51.7%
* New Orders: 68.3%
* Order Backlog: 64.9%
By compensated gross tonnage (CGT):
* Completions: 47.2%
* New Orders: 64.0%
* Backlog: 57.6%
China’s leadership extends beyond sheer volume. Its ability to construct technically complex vessels — such as LNG carriers and next-generation containerships — underscores its growing expertise and influence in the premium shipbuilding sector.
Export Momentum Reflects Global Confidence
China's ship export performance remained robust:
* 89.6% of completions were for overseas clients
* 89.5% of new orders originated from international buyers
* 93.2% of backlog is export-related
* Total ship export value reached USD 24.5 billion
These figures highlight China’s central role in serving global maritime needs and reflect its reliability and trustworthiness in international commercial cooperation.
Future-Ready: Green and Smart Shipbuilding
As the shipping industry evolves toward cleaner and smarter operations, Chinese shipyards are proactively advancing in:
* LNG and ammonia-fueled ships
* Hybrid propulsion systems
* Intelligent navigation and onboard automation
These vessel types represent the future of maritime transport and reflect China’s growing capabilities in sustainable and tech-driven ship design.
Policy-Driven Innovation and Investment
Guided by the 15th Five-Year Plan (2025–2030), China is intensifying its focus on:
* Offshore engineering and marine equipment
* Development of low-emission vessels
* Smart shipyard upgrades
* Industrial automation and digital integration
This policy framework provides both strategic direction and strong backing for innovation in China’s maritime manufacturing ecosystem.
Conclusion: From Quantity to Quality
The 2025 mid-year data confirms China’s continued dominance in global shipbuilding. More importantly, it signals a shift in focus — from rapid expansion to sustainable, intelligent, and value-driven development. China is not only building more ships, but also building better ships for a smarter and greener global maritime future.
