China supplied 56.1% of global shipbuilding output in 2025, a scale that could support future naval production as U.S. analysts assess the country’s fleet and dual-use industrial base.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported that Chinese shipyards completed 53.69 million deadweight tonnes (DWT) of vessels, an 11.4% increase from 2024. New orders reached 107.82 million DWT, or 69% of the global total, although the figure fell 4.6% year over year. At the end of December, the orderbook was 274.42 million DWT, up 31.5% and equal to 66.8% of the global total. MIIT reported industrywide totals without breaking out commercial and military vessels.
Many Chinese shipyards serve both commercial and military users, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The commission estimates that yards with strong military ties account for about 40% of annual ship production. It says overseas commercial orders keep some of this capacity in use, and that the facilities could later serve defense needs. The commission’s historical series shows China accounted for 5% of ship deliveries by tonnage in 1999, 36% in 2015 and 53% in 2024.
Andrew S. Erickson, a professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College, put China’s battle-force fleet above 400 ships in a Mar. 2, 2026, submission to the commission, including more than 60 submarines. Erickson said his views did not represent U.S. government policies or estimates. The Congressional Budget Office counted 291 U.S. Navy battle-force ships as of May 1, 2026, including 11 aircraft carriers. The Congressional Research Service cautions that ship counts offer a limited comparison because the fleets have different compositions.
China’s Ministry of National Defense said its third carrier, the Fujian, entered service Nov. 5, 2025. The ship has a full-load displacement of more than 80,000 metric tonnes and electromagnetic catapult launch and recovery systems. A U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) report in 2025 assessed that China’s navy aimed to add six carriers by 2035, bringing its total to nine; the Chinese ministry did not announce that target.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative concluded in 2025 that China’s policies in maritime, logistics and shipbuilding undercut business opportunities and investment in U.S. industries. A Chinese navy spokesperson said the Fujian would continue testing after entering service, but gave no timetable.
