On October 25th, in an interview with Xinhuanet, Xie Mengyuan explored the remarkable achievements of China’s shipping industry. As the largest shipowning nation with a leading maritime fleet and a growing number of shipbuilding orders, China’s position in the global shipping market is significant. However, challenges remain, and there is ample room for growth.
The ongoing trend toward smart development has become a focal point for the industry. In response to this shift, China has built 49 automated terminals, with another 44 under construction. The country’s automated terminal applications, operational efficiency, and technical level are all among the best in the world. A number of new port infrastructures, such as the automated container terminal project in Shanghai’s Luojing Port area, have been completed and put into operation. Additionally, over 90% of key coastal international hub ports now have shore power facilities, and shore power usage has become routine for specific areas, routes, and vessels.
Shanghai Port, as a vital shipping hub, recorded a container throughput of 49.16 million TEUs over the past year, maintaining its status as the world’s busiest port for 14 consecutive years. The Shanghai International Shipping Center has ranked third globally for five consecutive years in the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index. Furthermore, the first domestically-built large cruise ship, the “IDA – Magic City,” has set sail from Shanghai.
Regarding the equally important shipbuilding sector, China has made impressive strides. In an exclusive interview, Yi Guowei, the deputy manager of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding’s cruise project, stated that China’s shipbuilding industry is at the forefront worldwide in terms of scale, capacity, industry completeness, and cost-effectiveness.
Data reveals that from January to September 2024, China’s shipbuilding completion volume reached 36.34 million deadweight tons, up 18.2% year-on-year. The new orders stood at 87.11 million deadweight tons, marking a 51.9% increase compared to the previous year. In terms of deadweight tonnage, China’s three major shipbuilding metrics represent 55.1%, 74.7%, and 61.4% of the global total.
Moreover, China has secured over 70% of global orders for green ships, achieving complete coverage of mainstream ship types, with highlights including developments in green technologies, high value-added features, and proprietary technologies during the first three quarters of the year.
“In recent years, as we continuously enhance our shipbuilding technology, manufacturing capabilities, and project management, China’s shipbuilding product line has become quite comprehensive, allowing us to meet global demands for various ship types, which gives us an edge over countries like Japan and South Korea,” Yi noted.
However, he acknowledged there is still ample scope for improvement in areas like technological innovation, digital production, efficiency, and automation of some manufacturing equipment. “From a shipbuilding perspective, there is an urgent need for advancements in the development and application of low-carbon, green ship types and technologies. We also need to explore new operational models for cruise ships and greatly improve our lean manufacturing practices to further reduce costs and enhance efficiency, thereby strengthening China’s voice in the shipbuilding arena.”
Enhancing China’s influence in the maritime sector is a common vision shared by many industry professionals. Professor Hu Hao from Shanghai Jiaotong University’s School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and a standing director of the China Maritime Association emphasized the importance of national involvement in rule-making for cutting-edge technologies in the shipping sector, such as autonomous vessels.
“We emphasize the transition from being ‘big’ to being ‘strong.’ In shipping terms, this means the development of high-end shipping services, including ship management, financing, maritime insurance, and legal arbitration,” said Liu Yang, chief representative of the International Shipping Federation’s Shanghai office. “This transition from hard power to soft power is crucial for elevating our high-end shipping service sector.”
