Seatrade-Maritime: Chinese vessel export volume jumps 36.4% in July

Published by Seatrade-Maritime

Driven by robust global shipping demand and accelerated vessel delivery schedules, China’s ship export industry registered striking year-on-year growth in July 2026, according to official statistics released by the General Administration of Customs of China.

In July, China exported 656 vessels worth RMB48.82billion ($7.2 billion), soaring 36.4% in export volume and 84.6% in export value year on year, reflecting strong delivery capacity and growing market recognition for Chinese built vessels.

For the first seven months of 2026, China’s total ship exports reached 4,046 units with a total value of RMB268.14 billion ($39.55 billion), representing a 4.5% volume increase and a remarkable 32.7% value surge compared with the same period last year.

By vessel category, tanker exports delivered the most explosive growth, emerging as the core driving force for overall export expansion. In July, China exported 57 tankers valued at RMB 22.14 billion, jumping 171.4% in volume and 212.9% in value year on year. Cumulatively, the country exported 296 tankers worth RMB 105.63 billion from January to July, with volume and value skyrocketing 89.7% and 187.1% year on year respectively.

In July, 20 container ships were exported with a total value of RMB 6.04 billion, achieving a year-on-year volume doubling and a 36.2% value increase, driven by concentrated batch deliveries of eco-friendly feeder and medium-sized container vessels.

However, affected by adjusted delivery cycles of large ultra-large container ship orders, the cumulative export volume and value in the first seven months declined moderately, standing at 80 units and RMB 39.22 billion, down 20% and 23.5% year on year respectively.

Bulk carrier exports maintained steady and resilient growth throughout the period. The steady expansion benefits from sustained global dry bulk shipping demand and the cost-performance advantages of China’s self-developed bulk carrier products.

A total of 46 bulk carriers were exported in July, generating an export value of RMB 8.13 billion, up 9.5% and 52.6% year on year. In the January–July period, cumulative bulk carrier exports hit 305 units worth RMB 57.07 billion, rising 2.0% in volume and 37.9% in value year on year.