China solidified its dominance in global shipbuilding for the 16th straight year in 2025, capturing the largest market shares across output, new orders, and order books, according to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Shipyards in the country produced 53.69 million deadweight tonnes (DWT), marking an 11.4% increase from 2024 and accounting for 56.1% of worldwide output. This performance underscores China’s pivotal role in fueling the global maritime industry’s recovery and expansion.
Record-Breaking Orders and Backlog
Chinese shipbuilders secured new contracts totaling 107.82 million DWT in 2025, securing a commanding 69% share of global new-build orders. By year-end, outstanding orders at Chinese yards reached 274.42 million DWT, up 31.5% year-on-year and representing 66.8% of the global order book. These figures highlight sustained demand for new vessels amid geopolitical shifts, green shipping transitions, and trade growth in Asia.
Implications for Global Maritime Trade
China’s shipbuilding prowess supports India’s maritime ambitions, as Indian shipowners and yards increasingly source eco-friendly vessels and LNG carriers from Chinese builders. With global fleets modernizing to meet IMO decarbonization targets, China’s capacity edge positions it to lead in next-gen technologies like methanol and ammonia-fueled ships. For South Asian ports and logistics hubs like those in Mumbai and Chennai, this translates to faster fleet renewal and competitive chartering rates.
The ministry’s data reinforces China’s unassailable lead, outpacing rivals like South Korea and Japan, and bolstering supply chains critical to international trade routes through the Indian Ocean.
