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Ship Building in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: November 2024 3751

Revenue

$58.8bn

2024

$58.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

162k

Businesses

109

Wages

$X.Xbn

Ship Building in China industry analysis

Over the five years through 2024, the Ship Building industry in China has been declining at an annualized rate of 4.7% to $58.8 billion. This industry's activities are highly concentrated in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Shanghai.
In 2019, China completed 36.7 million DWT (Dead Weight Ton) of shipbuilding, increasing 6.1% from 2018. However, mainly due to insufficient market demand, industry revenue decreased by 11.0% from 2018. In 2020, affected by the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the slowdown of the world economic recovery, the lack of demand in the shipping and maritime markets, industry revenue decreased by 2.3% to $45.6 billion in the year. In 2021, the world economy recovered unevenly, the international shipping market showed a positive trend. China completed 39.7 million DWT of shipbuilding in the year, increasing 3.1% from 2020. In 2022, China completed 39.7 million DWT of shipbuilding, down 4.5% from 2021 and industry revenue decreased by 0.3% in the year. In 2023, the shipbuilding completion volume, the new order volume and the handheld order volume were 42.3 million DWT, 71.2 million DWT, and 139.4 million DWT, respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 11.8%, 56.4% and 32.0%, respectively. In the first half of 2024, the three major indicators of the Ship Building in China grew synchronously, with the shipbuilding completion volume, the new order volume and the handheld order volume increasing by 18.4%, 43.9% and 38.6%, respectively. The Ship Building in China continues leading the world. The industry revenue is expected to increase 14.5% to $58.8 billion in 2023, when profit will be 0.1%.
In the next five years, industry revenue is forecast to increase at an annualized rate of 9.0% to total $90.4 billion in 2029. The Ship Building industry in China is expected to maintain steady growth in the next five years. Higher product quality and strict standards for high value-added production will be industry development trend. Large companies in this industry are developing new ship types for more cargo varieties and higher profitability.

Trends and Insights

  • Development of the Ship Building industry is closely related with the shipping activities. In 2024, world trade is expected to increase 3.8%, which will contribute to growing demand for shipping activities and ship building.
  • Bulk cargo carriers contribute the most to industry revenue, benefiting from large-scale dry bulk shipping. In 2024, bulk cargo carriers are expected to account for an estimated 54.4% of total industry revenue in 2024.
  • This industry's activities are highly concentrated the East China region. In 2024, East China is expected to generate 69.6% of industry revenue.
  • Overall concentration level is high. The industry has a high level of concentration with top four major companies making up of 71.1% of industry revenue in 2024.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $58.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

International demand is of great importance for the industry development

  • China became the largest ship building country in the world in 2010. Chinese ship building enterprises have been actively developing international market in order to expand product sales volume and markets share, and enhance international competitiveness.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ship Building in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Domestic ship building enterprises will continue developing international market

  • Under industry policy supports, domestic ship building enterprises will continuously increase investment in technology research and development to enhance independent innovation capacities and promote high-quality development.

Biggest companies in the Ship Building in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Ship Building in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ship Building in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bulk cargo carriers, Oil tankers and Container carriers. Bulk cargo carriers is the largest segment of the Ship Building in China.

Trends and Insights

Bulk cargo carriers contributes the most to industry revenue, benefiting from large-scale dry bulk shipping

  • Bulk cargo carries refer to vessels that transport bulk cargo like grains, coal, minerals, salt and cement, etc.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Firms operating within the Ship Building industry in China primarily manufacture ships, ship bodies and boats from metals such as steel and aluminum. The ships and boats manufactured by this industry are intended for civil and military use, and exclude non-metal ships and boats for entertainment and sport. Ship repairing is included in the Ship Repairing and Conversion industry in China (IBISWorld industry report 3755).

What's included in this industry?

Bulk cargo carriersOil tankersContainer carriersOther ships

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BALTIC DRY INDEX (BDI)LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Development of the Ship Building industry is closely related with the shipping activities. In 2024, world trade is expected to increase 3.8%, which will contribute to growing...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Bulk cargo carriers contribute the most to industry revenue, benefiting from large-scale dry bulk shipping. In 2024, bulk cargo carriers are expected to account for an estima...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

This industry's activities are highly concentrated the East China region. In 2024, East China is expected to generate 69.6% of industry revenue.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Overall concentration level is high. The industry has a high level of concentration with top four major companies making up of 71.1% of industry revenue in 2024.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

CSSC dominates the market. The largest operator in the industry, CSSC, holds a share of an estimated 44.0% of market in 2024.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Several factors influence industry development. Demand for ship building is mainly influenced by world trade, China’s GDP growth, domestic enterprises’ technology improvement...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Industry profitability is lower, but will grow gradually in the future. Industry profit is expected to account for about 0.1% in 2024.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Ship Building industry in China in 2024?

    The market size of the Ship Building industry in China is $58.8bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Ship Building in China industry in 2024?

    There are 109 businesses in the Ship Building industry in China, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Ship Building industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Ship Building industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Ship Building industry in China over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Ship Building industry in China is expected to grow.

    What does the Ship Building in China include?

    Bulk cargo carriers and Oil tankers are part of the Ship Building industry.

    How competitive is the Ship Building industry in China?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Ship Building industry in China.

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    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in China include:

    • National Bureau of Statistics China
    • General Administration of Customs
    • People’s Bank of China

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.