China's shipbuilding industry extended its global lead in the first quarter of 2026, with new orders, completed vessels and order backlog all ranking first worldwide, according to official data.

New shipbuilding orders surged 195.2% year on year, while order backlog rose 43.6%, accounting for nearly 70% of the global total. Several Chinese shipyards have already secured orders through 2030.

China ranked first globally in new orders for 15 of the world's 18 major ship types in the quarter, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Chinese shipbuilders captured more than 90% of global orders for very large crude carriers, bulk carriers and large container ships with capacities exceeding 10,000 containers.

On April 28, the world's first LNG dual-fuel car carrier capable of transporting 10,800 vehicles was delivered in Guangzhou's Nansha district, setting a new capacity record for its class.

China has rapidly expanded its position in global shipbuilding in recent years, supported by strong demand for commercial shipping, green vessels and vehicle carriers tied to the country's booming auto exports.