Taizhou emerges as global powerhouse in shipbuilding

Taizhou emerges as a major force in the global shipbuilding industry. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

Taizhou has solidified its position as a key player in the global shipbuilding industry, achieving record-breaking production and developing a highly competitive industrial ecosystem.

In 2023, the city built 9.14 million deadweight tons (DWT) of ships, making up 21.6 percent of China's total and 10.85 percent of the global total. In 2024, production increased to 10.3 million DWT, boosting Taizhou's share worldwide to 11.9 percent. The city has become China's leading private shipbuilding base and a national center for ship exports.

Taizhou now hosts over 20 companies involved in shipbuilding, repair, and dismantling, backed by more than 400 upstream and downstream enterprises. These enterprises have created a highly integrated industrial chain.

Leading enterprises are crucial to Taizhou's development. New Times Shipbuilding has consistently ranked among China's top five and is in the top 10 worldwide. Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, China's first listed shipbuilder in Singapore, has maintained a position in the top five nationally since 2009 and entered the global top 10 in 2021. Sanfu Ship Engineering controls about one-third of the global market for 10,000-ton multipurpose heavy-lift vessels.

Taizhou is home to more than 20 shipbuilding, repair, and dismantling companies. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

In terms of ship types, Taizhou now covers a full range of vessels, including bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, and chemical carriers to LNG vessels.

The industry relies on a comprehensive and efficient support system. Local suppliers are segmented into seven key categories: power systems, deck machinery, cabin equipment, navigation and automation systems, electrical components, marine outfitting, and shipbuilding materials. Specialized clusters have developed in the city: Jingjiang known for propellers, rudders, and anchor chains; Taixing for ventilation systems; Xinghua for deck machinery; and Jiangyan for valves, pumps, and piping.

Innovation continues to be the main driver of Taizhou's competitiveness. Major shipbuilders have set up ship design and research institutes in Shanghai, allowing for independent development of key vessel types.

Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding builds a dual-fuel container ship for France's CMA CGM Group. [Photo/Taizhou Daily]

Green development now plays a key role in Taizhou's shipbuilding industry. Companies are focusing on constructing green ship construction and green vessels. Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding produced France's CMA CGM Group's first 24,000-TEU dual-fuel container ship, among the most advanced green ships globally. This vessel decreases carbon dioxide emissions by about 20 percent and cuts sulfur oxide and particulate emissions by 99 percent compared to traditional fuel-powered ships.