China's Shipbuilding Industry Achieves New Records in H1 2026
Key metrics for China's shipbuilding sector—completed tonnage, new orders, and orders on hand—reached new historical highs in the first half of 2026.
China's shipbuilding industry has set new records in the first half of 2026, with its three core indicators—completed tonnage, new orders, and orders on hand—all reaching historical highs, according to data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The volume of completed shipbuilding reached 36.5 million deadweight tons (DWT), marking a 51.2% year-on-year increase. The volume of orders on hand, a measure of long-term stability, grew by 54.9% to 363.25 million DWT. Notably, new orders surged to 121.06 million DWT, a 173.1% increase from the previous year, surpassing the historical peak for an entire year.
China's global market share in shipbuilding also saw significant gains. In the first half of 2026, the country accounted for 62.2% of global completed tonnage, 82.3% of new orders, and 71.2% of orders on hand. For the three major ship types—bulk carriers, container ships, and oil tankers—China's share of new international orders exceeded 80%.
Exports remained robust, with exported vessels accounting for 94.0% of completed tonnage, 93.4% of new orders, and 92.1% of orders on hand between January and June 2026. The total value of exported vessels reached $31.62 billion. The development of green and low-carbon ships is a key focus for the industry's upgrade, with China possessing the capability to assemble all types of vessels.