China's shipbuilding industry solidified its global leadership for the 16th consecutive year in 2025, according to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology data released this week. The sector achieved 53.69 million deadweight tonnes (DWT) in annual output – an 11.4% year-on-year increase that represents 56.1% of worldwide production.
New orders surged to 107.82 million DWT last year, capturing 69% of global market share. Backlog orders reached 274.42 million DWT by December 2025, maintaining 66.8% of global capacity and marking a 31.5% annual increase.
Analysts attribute this sustained growth to technological advancements in green shipping solutions and strategic infrastructure investments across coastal industrial hubs. The performance strengthens China's position as maritime trade recovers from pandemic-era disruptions, with Asian shipbuilders now handling nearly three-quarters of global commercial vessel contracts.
