China Captures Over 80% of New Vessel Orders This Week, Reinforcing Its Dominance in Global Shipbuilding

China’s shipbuilding industry continues to assert its dominance, securing over 80% of new vessel orders globally this week, according to a newly released dataset. The majority of the contracts span a wide array of ship types, from tankers and bulk carriers to heavy-load carriers and ro-ro ferries, highlighting China’s broad-based production capacity and commercial appeal to global and domestic clients alike.

Of the 30 newbuild contracts recorded this week, at least 24 vessels are being constructed at Chinese yards, including Zhejiang ShenZhou Sunshine Heavy Industry, China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding, Jingjiang Nanyang, Zhongguang ChuanDong, and others. These shipyards are spread across coastal hubs such as Weihai, Jingjiang, Guangzhou, and Chongqing—critical nodes in China’s integrated maritime manufacturing ecosystem.

Among the ordered vessels, tankers remain a core asset type, with multiple Aframax and MR-size tankers slated for delivery by 2026–2029. Notably, China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding (Weihai) alone secured contracts for six cargo/ferry vessels, underlining the continued demand for dual-use vessels suited for China's coastal trade and Belt and Road-linked markets.

Other standout orders include:

- Heavy-load carrier from Guangzhou Shipyard International

- Multiple bulk carriers from Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding

- Tankers for Hubei Hechuang and ZhouShan Ningshing Shipbuilding

Strategic Positioning

This wave of orders underscores China’s continued lead in commercial shipbuilding, fueled by its:

- Competitive pricing

- State-backed financing and infrastructure support

- Rapid construction turnaround

- Increased domestic demand for LNG, oil, and dry bulk shipping capacity

At a time when Japanese and Korean yards are increasingly focused on LNG carriers and high-spec vessels, Chinese shipyards appear to be dominating the middle-market and multipurpose vessel segment.

Non-China Orders

Only a handful of orders went to non-Chinese yards, notably:

- Samsung Heavy Industries (South Korea) received Suezmax tanker orders from Centrofin Management Inc

- Japan Marine United (JMU) secured one additional tanker contract

These figures reflect the tightening concentration of lower-cost construction in China, while South Korean and Japanese yards pivot toward specialization and technology-driven designs.