China Secures Over 80% of Global Ship Orders In First 9 Months, Consolidating Its Maritime Dominance

China now leads the world in new ship orders, with its shipyards securing almost 81.8% of them in the first 9 months of 2026, according to official data revealed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Demand is also strong, given the current geopolitical situation in the Gulf region, where ship-to-ship transfers outside Hormuz have increased and created demand for more crude tankers.

By the end of last month, total orders reached 399.13 million deadweight tonnes, up 64.8% year on year. In the first 3 quarters of 2026, Chinese yards completed ships with a total carrying capacity of 58.05 million DWT, more than 63% of the global total.

Chinese media outlets highlighted the role of domestic suppliers in meeting requirements and supporting the Chinese shipbuilding industry’s global dominance.

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