China's shipbuilding industry retains top spot globally for 16 consecutive years

China's shipbuilding sector retained its top spot in the world in terms of completed shipbuilding volume, new orders and orders on hand in 2025, ranking first globally for 16 consecutive years, data from the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed on Sunday.

In 2025, China's shipbuilding completion volume reached 53.69 million deadweight tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 11.4 percent, accounting for 56.1 percent of the global market, with new orders reaching 107.82 million deadweight tonnes, accounting for 69 percent of the world's total.

As of the end of December 2025, the orders on hand was 274.42 million deadweight tonnes, up 31.5 percent year on year, accounting for 66.8 percent of the global total, setting a new record.

"China's shipbuilding industry achieved remarkable results in 2025, with all three major indicators exceeding expectations. The future market is expected to experience moderate growth, so it is crucial for China's shipbuilding sector to continue seizing market opportunities, securing orders quickly, and ensuring timely deliveries," said Li Yanqing, secretary-general of China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry.

Among the 18 major ship types, China led the world in new orders for 16 of them last year.

"China's overall shipbuilding orders on hand can sustain three to four years of work, with full production schedules. China's shipbuilding sector will continue along the path of high-quality development, deeply integrating into the global industrial division of labor, and jointly shaping a new industrial landscape of green and intelligent development," Li said.