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China shipbuilding

China shipbuilding
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China shipbuilding. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A general view of shipping containers and cranes at Yangshan deep water port in Shanghai. Photo: AFP
China's economic recovery

Shanghai port secures second place in global ranking, overtaking London

A core focus for the port, the busiest in the world and China’s shipbuilding centre, is to become a premier international shipping hub.

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Aerospace: Companies

China’s historic sea-based rocket recovery puts spotlight on local shipbuilder

China-Japan relations

China’s grip on global ship repair worries Japan. Can Tokyo end its dependence?

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China-Asean relations

China tests future of shipping on its next trade corridor: a US$10 billion canal

The megaproject is set to boost trade links with Southeast Asia and connect inland provinces to global shipping routes.

Beigang Yunhe 002, the first 5,000-tonne intelligent demonstration vessel for the Pinglu Canal, successfully completed a sea trial on Wednesday. Photo: South China Morning Post
Mainland China

China’s shipyards pass fresh milestone with delivery of vast specialised carrier

China is already the world’s dominant builder of bulk carriers and container ships. Now, it is also capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders.

China energy security

How China is cashing in on a global scramble for offshore oil and gas

Chinese firms dominate the global market for machinery used to extract offshore energy – a sector that is booming amid the Iran war.

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Science

China proposes nuclear-powered floating island to reshape global shipping

Powered by molten salt reactors, the complex will function as a container terminal and zero-carbon platform.

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Jiangnan Shipyard has announced the blueprint of a nuclear-powered floating island designed to serve as a container transfer terminal and charging station for vessels. Photo: Handout
China trade

Why China is defending industrial subsidies against ‘one-sided’ OECD report

The dispute comes as industrial policy becomes a major point of contention in global trade, particularly in hi-tech and strategic sectors.

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South Korea

Why the US Navy must look to allies if it wants to catch up to China at sea

To close gap with Chinese fleet, analysts say the US must outsource shipbuilding to South Korea and Japan – but the move risks backlash.

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Transport and logistics

Polar shipping era: China, South Korea bypass old trade lines amid Hormuz crisis

Passage through the waters could reduce transit times to Europe, offering an alternative to traditional routes amid rising geopolitical risks.

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Arctic shipping routes could cut transit times compared with traditional sea routes, such as passage via the Suez Canal and the much longer journey around the Cape of Good Hope. Photo: Shutterstock
China economy

The US tried to rein in China’s shipyards. Now, they are even more dominant

China’s shipyards secured a staggering 85 per cent of global orders in the first quarter, as demand for oil tankers surges amid the Iran war.

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Workers build large vessels at the Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing, capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
US military

Pentagon mulls plan to outsource warship design, building to South Korea, Japan

If the proposal goes ahead it will be the first time the US has bought a major surface combatant from a foreign partner since WWII.

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China exports

China delivers record LNG carrier – is South Korea losing its shipbuilding edge?

The vessel’s completion follows China dominating global shipbuilding orders last year, with South Korea leading in high-value segments.

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US, Israel war on Iran

The Iran war’s unlikely winner: China’s shipyards

China already dominates global shipbuilding orders – and the Strait of Hormuz crisis appears to be boosting demand.

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Ships under construction at China Merchants Industrial Nanjing Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, on April 16. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

Trump’s military push confronts US lawmakers and China’s shipbuilding edge

Congressional resistance, war costs and industrial limits could constrain ambitions, even as Beijing expands its naval capacity.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China technology

China sails into AI era with ambitious smart shipping targets

Pilot zones and more than 100 smart vessels are part of Beijing’s strategy to bolster maritime operations and address bottlenecks.

Mainland China

China’s high-end yacht owners say industry growth stifled by structural gaps

Shipowners say billionaire Richard Liu’s new venture to make yacht ownership more affordable will need to surmount significant challenges.

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Mainland China

Iran war exposes a weakness in China’s vast shipping sector: a lack of insurers

China’s maritime sector still relies on overseas legal and financial service providers, a potential strategic vulnerability in a turbulent world.

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A cargo ship loads and unloads containers at a port in eastern China’s Jiangsu province. China has a vast shipping sector, but still lacks a robust maritime insurance industry. Photo: Getty Images
Japan

‘Not easy’: Japan mulls building its own LNG carriers amid Iran energy crisis

China and South Korea dominate global production of vessels for carrying natural gas, but Japan now sees industry as key to its energy security.

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China technology

Editorial | China steps up its clean energy push with electric ships

As the world’s largest shipbuilder and a leader in EVs and advanced batteries, the country is well placed to help clean up the polluting shipping industry.

Open Questions series

Open Questions | US shipbuilding revival looks dead in the water, Li Yanqing says

China commercial shipbuilding veteran doubts protectionist US can take business from market-oriented Chinese yards, and slams Washington’s ‘fabricated facts’ about their rise.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
Transport and logistics

Open Questions | Top shipbuilding voice Li Yanqing rebukes Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative

China’s national shipbuilding association official calls US port fees ‘absurd’ and politically motivated, while asserting China’s market lead is solid despite global fluctuations.

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez
China's military weapons

China’s 155mm naval gun on test vessel signals boost to amphibious landing power

The weapon – reportedly capable of firing guided munitions – represents a significant upgrade for PLA Navy.

China travel

China’s cruise industry passes major milestone as Beijing eyes travel boom

As domestic liner handles 1 millionth passenger, Beijing says it aims to turn yachts and cruise ships into major new consumption drivers.

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China manufacturing

Stern rebuke: China shrugs off 2025 US threats to anchor shipbuilding dominance

Despite a market share dip, Chinese yards extend their commanding lead in key indicators, as high exports and lengthy backlogs signal resilience despite rivals’ gains.

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A vessel is seen under construction at a ship-building facility in China’s Jiangsu province on January 27. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

‘Wartime footing’: US Navy chief unveils Trump’s Golden Fleet shipbuilding push

John Phelan says it is essential that America matches China’s superior production capacity and manufacturing workforce.

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US President Donald Trump announces plans for a new class of warships called the Golden Fleet at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in December. Photo: AFP
China economy

China’s shipyards still lead the world, but US threats took a toll in 2025

Chinese shipbuilders saw their market share dip for the first time in five years in 2025, as uncertainty over US port fees roiled the industry.

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China's military weapons

Is China quietly preparing cargo ships to transform into military vessels?

Containers bear the words ‘plan for the maritime revival of the Chinese nation and the community of shared future for mankind in the ocean’.

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