China's shipbuilding industry sees a rapid rebound in new orders

China’s shipbuilding industry has seen new orders rebound rapidly. In 2025, due to the Trump administration in the United States introducing regulatory measures targeting Chinese vessels, the industry once found itself struggling, but after the measure was announced to be delayed, order volumes rose again by the end of 2025. In high-value ship segments such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier vessels, China’s shipbuilding industry influence continues to grow, showcasing the strong实力 of being #1 in global market share.

In Dalian, a port city in Northeast China, in mid-March, when looking from near the production base of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the world’s largest shipbuilding group, multiple tankers can be seen under construction, with large cranes performing operations.

China’s shipbuilding industry has experienced ups and downs in recent years. As of 2024, demand for ships and other products meeting new environmental regulations continued to grow, but in 2025 the situation took a sudden turn for the worse. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that when vessels built in China call at U.S. ports, a port call fee will be charged. The measure was originally set to take effect in the autumn of 2025.

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