The Chinese Shipbuilding Industry: Information and Resources

With China’s very long coastline, you can imagine that the country would have an important port and shipping industry. Combine that with China’s manufacturing prowess, and it makes perfect sense why it would want a modern shipbuilding sector, to support its massive exports. The marine and ship-related commerce in China is truly expansive; it also brings added business in port-building, marina development, and pleasure boat manufacture. Here are the basics about China’s rapidly growing marine sector.

A World Player

Shipbuilding has been no different than the rest of China’s manufacturing sector: it has seen great growth in the past ten years. The aggregate of its shipbuilding industries represented 4% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2005, and it continues to flourish. As the Chinese government continues to put emphasis on its sea-related production, shipbuilding is poised to become a major part of the Chinese economy. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, its marine industries were worth a staggering 77 billion dollars in the year of 2005. Its gross tonnage of ships produced accounts for nearly 18% of the world’s production.

The Areas of Marine Production and Development

While shipbuilding is one means of measuring a country’s maritime industry, it’s certainly not the only one. China is also focusing on the manufacture of pleasure boats, port and waterway construction, development of new marinas, and expanding shipbuilding bases.

  • Pleasure Boat Manufacture: As China’s middle class expands, so does the market for recreation. With the country’s numerous waterways and long coastline, it’s no surprise that recreational boating would be a growing industry. There is much investment in the pleasure boat industry, and it is expected to be a 10 billion dollar market by 2015.
  • Port and Waterway Construction: It’s no secret that China is an important exporter of goods around the world. To handle this large movement of freight, the country is expanding its port system. Ports are being upgraded and modernized to facilitate the double digit growth of freight output.
  • Marinas: As the pleasure boating market expands, the market for marinas grows as well. As Chinese citizens experience economic growth and become more middle class, they are targets for luxury residences equipped with waterways and marinas. In it efforts to modernize and remake its image, Shanghai has built marinas along its downtown river.
  • Shipbuilding Bases: In order to continue the increasing production of ships, China must embark on another industry—the building of bases which will be able to handle this fast-paced growth. Currently, many new shipyards are in development, including the Changxing Shipbuilding Base. When it is completed in 2015, Changxing will be able to build 8 million tons worth of ships a year—the largest capacity in the world.

 

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