Chinese Industry Close-up: What fuels China’s shipbuilding boom as order bookings stretch well into 2030?

The Chinese shipbuilding industry is experiencing a remarkable boom, with orders for ships extending well into 2030. This growth is driven by China's strategic goals outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, which emphasize modernizing the industrial system, consolidating the real economy, and advancing high-level technological self-reliance.

The Global Times has launched a new column, "Chinese Industry Close-up," to explore these industrial transformations and showcase China's innovation-driven approach to high-quality development. A recent visit to shipyards and marine research institutes under the CSSC provided insight into the sector's impressive scale and technological advancements.

Chinese shipyards are currently building over 100 ships, with total deadweight tonnage exceeding 23 million tons, and some deliveries are scheduled as far ahead as 2031. The CSSC, China's largest shipbuilding group, has seen steady growth in key economic indicators, with profit margins reaching their highest level since the group's restructuring. This reflects the overall strong performance of China's shipbuilding industry.

China's dominance in shipbuilding can be attributed to breakthroughs in key technologies, such as the self-developed BrilliancE II aluminum B-type containment system, which has secured certifications from the US Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping. Jiangnan Shipyard's dedication to innovation has ended foreign monopolies in high-value gas-carryer markets.

The shipyard's "crown jewel" is its role in constructing large cruise ships. A single cruise ship can have over 25 million components and more than 100 onboard systems, making it far more complex than ordinary merchant vessels.

Wei Shengsheng from Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding highlighted vibration-noise reduction achievements for cruise ships. Unlike ordinary passenger vessels, cruise ships require unique designs to reduce cabin noise and ensure that sounds like karaoke stay inside cabins. The upcoming Adora Flora City, scheduled for delivery in November, demonstrates China's ability to build large cruise ships systematically, with larger tonnage, more cabins, and improved efficiency.

With China now the only country capable of building aircraft carriers, large cruise ships, and large LNG carriers, and having ranked first globally in the three core shipbuilding indicators for 16 consecutive years, the country's shipbuilding leadership is the result of accumulated systemic strength.