China's shipbuilding industry has experienced explosive growth, currently holding a commanding position in the global market. Approximately 34% of ships currently in operation and a staggering 57.1% of those under construction were built in China. This surge contrasts sharply with their production level in 1999, when they accounted for less than 5% of global shipbuilding.
The United States, once a leading player in the industry, aims to reclaim its position. Former President Trump pledged to revitalize American shipbuilding across both commercial and military sectors.
Your bike. Your couch. Your kids’ toys. Even your car — most likely, they all crossed an ocean on a ship. And chances are, that ship was made in China.
China is by far the world’s largest shipbuilding nation. They have it all: the steel, the aluminum, the parts, the components, the final assembly. China owns the infrastructure. Roughly 34% of all ships currently on water were made in China, and 57.1% of ships under construction today are at Chinese shipyards.
In 1999, China produced less than 5% of the world’s ships. By 2023, that number exceeded 50%.
It doesn’t stop at shipbuilding. China controls 95% of global shipping container production. And a single Chinese shipyard now builds more ships annually than all American shipyards combined. Think about that — and this used to be an industry dominated by the United States.
Trump’s Tariffs and the Shipbuilding Comeback Plan
Having launched a trade war with China, Donald Trump has now turned his attention to shipbuilding.
“We are going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry,” he declared, “including commercial and military shipbuilding.”
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