China’s Shipbuilding Industry Leads Globally with Strong Growth in Q1 2026

CCTV News reports that China’s shipbuilding industry has achieved remarkable growth in the first quarter of 2026, with all three core indicators maintaining leading positions in the global market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that the industry has maintained a steady development momentum, supported by technological innovation and continuous breakthroughs in high-value shipbuilding.

Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that in the first three months of 2026, China completed 15.68 million deadweight tons of shipbuilding, a year-on-year increase of 46.0% and accounting for 57.3% of the world’s total. New orders reached 59.53 million deadweight tons, soaring by 195.2% year-on-year and representing 84.9% of the global market share. By the end of March, the hand-held orders stood at 322.3 million deadweight tons, up 43.6% year-on-year and accounting for 69.8% of the world’s total.

The strong growth of the three core indicators fully demonstrates China’s leading status in the global shipbuilding industry. Industry data supplements that China ranks first in new orders for 15 out of 18 major global ship types, and its international market share for large ships such as ultra-large crude oil tankers, large car carriers and large container ships exceeds 90%.

Since the start of 2026, China’s shipbuilding industry has made a series of progress in technological innovation and production operations, focusing on the development of green and low-carbon clean energy ships. On April 28, the world’s first 10,800-vehicle LNG dual-fuel power car carrier, built by CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard International, was named and delivered.

Another major breakthrough was achieved on May 8, when the world’s first 24,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship was completed and named in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. This milestone signifies China’s significant progress in the design and construction of ultra-large clean energy ships, laying a solid foundation for the industry’s high-end and low-carbon transformation.

Green transformation has become a key driving force for the development of China’s shipbuilding industry. In the first quarter of 2026, the international market share of China’s new green ship orders reached 80.2%, covering various types of dual-fuel ships and electric ships such as LNG, LPG and methanol. These green ships can significantly reduce carbon emissions, with some models cutting carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90%.

Looking ahead, China’s shipbuilding industry will continue to focus on technological innovation and industrial upgrading, expanding its advantages in high-tech and high-value-added ship types. With continuous policy support and technological breakthroughs, the industry is expected to maintain its global leading position and inject new vitality into the global maritime transport and green energy development.