China records over 50% y-o-y surge in shipbuilding volumes in H1CY’26 cementing global dominance

• New orders reach 121.06 mn dwt, over 80% of world total
• Steel demand from shipbuilding sector sees steady growth

According to statistics from the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, from January to June 2026, the country’s shipbuilding completion volume reached 36.5 million deadweight tonnes (dwt), a y-o-y increase of 51.2%, from 24.1 dwt in the same period last year, accounting for 62.2% of the world’s total.

New orders reached 121.06 million dwt, a y-o-y increase of 173.1%, accounting for 82.3% of the world’s total; and as of the end of June, the order backlog reached 363.25 million dwt, a y-o-y increase of 54.9%, accounting for 71.2% of the world’s total.

China’s shipbuilding industry saw comprehensive growth across all three major indicators, maintaining its leading global market share.