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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.
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
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.

Mainland China

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

China energy security

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

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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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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Delivery and naming ceremony of Celsius Georgetown, taken on April 8 in Nantong, China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: Handout
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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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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Richard Liu’s brand, Sea Expandary, has signed a strategic framework agreement with the coastal cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong, for a high-end yacht industrial base with planned investment of about 5 billion yuan. Photo: handout
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.

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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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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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The Adora Magic City is the first Chinese-made large cruise ship. Photo: Getty Images
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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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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Images of a cargo ship in Shanghai carrying containerised vertical launchers, sensors and self defence systems have gone viral online. Photo: Wexin
United States

Trump announces new class of ‘battleships’ named after himself

According to Trump, the ships, the first of which will be named the USS Defiant, will be substantially larger than existing US destroyers.

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The new class of ship will become the centerpiece of Donald Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet’ programme. Photo: AFP
Made in China 2025

Exclusive | China’s oldest shipyard Jiangnan plans world’s first nuclear-powered vessel

Construction on 25,000-container ship could start in the next 10 years, but a lot remains to be done, a top executive says.

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Mainland China

Chinese shipyards shift focus to advanced vessels as rivals gain ground

Chinese shipbuilders accounted for 65 per cent of global orders in the first three quarters, down from nearly 75 per cent a year earlier.

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