China concentrates more than 80% of the world's new ship orders

Chinese shipyards accounted for 81.8% of global new ship orders from January to September 2026, marking a significant increase from the previous year. The total new orders reached 175.3 million gross tons, a 163.2% year-on-year rise. China's share in new orders rose from 67.3% in the same period of 2025, although it slightly decreased from 82.3% in the first half of 2026. Production also surged to 58.1 million gross tons, representing 63.6% of the global total. The backlog of orders reached 399.1 million tons, up 64.8% year-on-year, indicating a strong market demand. Additionally, China secured 74.1% of new orders for eco-friendly ships, reflecting a shift towards greener maritime transport amid rising emissions concerns. This growth is attributed to fleet renewals and geopolitical tensions affecting trade routes, particularly the extended maritime routes due to Suez Canal diversions. However, the reported figures are based on gross tonnage and may not accurately represent the…