According to a report by the American maritime business media 'Maritime Executive' on July 8, latest data from international shipping consulting firm Clarksons shows that in the first half of 2026, the number of new ship orders received by Chinese shipyards has doubled compared to the same period last year, continuing to rank first in the world.
Data shows that in the first half of this year, a total of 1,481 new ship orders were placed worldwide. Of these, Chinese shipyards took on 1,131 orders, representing approximately 31 million corrected gross tons (CGT), which accounts for about 72% of the global market share, essentially matching their leading position in 2025. This means that nearly 8 out of every 10 new ships ordered worldwide are built by Chinese shipyards.
In contrast, South Korean shipyards received a total of 195 orders in the first half of the year, worth approximately 8 million CGTs, representing a growth of about 60% compared to previous years. However, their global market share is only about 20%, indicating a significant gap compared to China. Reports indicate that by 2026, China’s market share advantage over South Korea is expected to further increase to 53 percentage points.
According to reports, Chinese shipbuilders have ranked first in global shipbuilding orders for four consecutive years and continue to expand their lead. However, South Korean shipbuilders do not focus solely on the number of orders they receive; instead, they prioritize profits by focusing on constructing high-value-added ships such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport vessels. According to data from Wood Mackenzie, South Korea still holds about two-thirds of the global LNG transport vessel orders.
The report also noted that although Chinese shipbuilders have taken on more container ships and bulk carriers, which are characterized by large volumes and lower profit margins, they are also winning orders from an increasing number of international major shipping companies. For example, the world’s largest container shipping company, MSC, currently has 128 new ships under construction, all of which are being built by Chinese shipbuilders. The report stated that MSC’s existing fleet exceeds 1,000 ships, and all of its new capacity is targeted at the Chinese shipbuilding industry.
