A recent BIMCO report shows that over the past year, the maritime transport industry has significantly contributed to the increase in shipbuilding activities in China. In particular, container ships have played a prominent role in these developments.
China's High Share in Container Ship Orders
According to Niels Rasmussen, senior shipping analyst at BIMCO, container ships account for over 30% of total shipbuilding capacity (CGT) and make up 68% of the increase in capacity last year. In fact, 81% of all container ship orders are held by Chinese builders.
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China's Dominance in Other Shipbuilding Sectors
In addition to container ships, China dominates other key sectors such as tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, and ro/ro vessels, with over 72% of orders in each of these categories going to Chinese builders. As a result, China's overall share of total global orders has reached 64%.
The total volume of global orders has increased by 13% compared to last year, reaching 203 million CGT. However, Chinese builders are expected to need to increase production capacity to meet their orders in 2027 and 2028.
Challenges Facing China's Shipbuilding Industry
BIMCO estimates that Chinese builders will need four years to complete current orders. Given that many ships are scheduled for delivery in 2027-2028, the need for increased production in China is strongly felt. Therefore, significant investments in China's shipbuilding industry are underway, and some shipyards have resumed operations.
Rasmussen also noted that China plans to deliver 44.0 million CGT of ships by 2028, which is nearly double the 22.7 million CGT delivered in 2025. However, this capacity expansion may increase the risk of underutilization if orders decrease in the future.
