China's ocean economy tops 5.5tr yuan in H1

August 03, 2026 (MLN): China's gross ocean product expanded 5.1% year-on-year to 5.5 trillion yuan (around $810.1bn) during the first half of 2026, reflecting steady momentum in the country's marine economy, according to data released by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The marine economy accounted for 7.9% of China's gross domestic product during the January-June period, supported by stable marine resource supplies and continued growth across key industries.

Meng Qinglei, an official at the ministry, said the stable availability of marine resources since the start of the year has provided a strong foundation for sustained development of the sector, as reported by APP.

China's shipbuilding industry remained a key growth driver, with new orders surging 105.2% year-on-year in the first six months of 2026. Ship deliveries increased 34.8%, while the order backlog climbed 37.1% from a year earlier.

The country's global market share stood at 73.9% for new shipbuilding orders, 55.4% for completed deliveries and 63.3% for order backlog, allowing China to retain its leading position in the global shipbuilding industry.

The ministry noted that the industry continued to upgrade its product mix, improving both the scale and quality of deliveries.

During the first half, Chinese shipyards delivered more than 40 large vessels, including container ships with capacities exceeding 10,000 TEUs, ultra-large crude carriers and large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

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