Click Image to Enlarge

Photo: Jiangnan Shipyard

China’s shipbuilders continue to dominate the global market, even as new orders have fallen sharply amid rising geopolitical tensions. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Chinese shipyards accounted for 65 per cent of global shipbuilding orders measured in deadweight tonnage during the first three quarters of 2025.

Plans for nuclear-powered container ships

At the same time, the industry is looking toward its next technological leap. Jiangnan Shipyard, part of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), is designing a 25,000-container vessel powered by a thorium-based molten salt reactor. Jiangnan vice-president Lin Qingshan said the ship is expected to have a lifespan of around 40 years and could enter construction within the next decade.

Lin also said that Jiangnan plans to invest in a dedicated shipyard for building nuclear-powered vessels, although he did not disclose the size of the investment.

Regulatory hurdles remain

Executives at CSSC have stated that the group aims to move further up the value chain by expanding into more technologically advanced vessels. These include cruise ships, deep-sea drilling vessels and nuclear-powered cargo ships.

No large nuclear-powered merchant vessel has yet been built. Such ships are seen as offering zero emissions, extended range, lower fuel costs and higher speeds. 

However, Lin noted that regulatory uncertainty remains a major obstacle, as there is currently no clearly designated government authority responsible for approving nuclear-powered commercial ships.

Growing competition and new technologies

Despite China’s strong market position, the shipbuilding sector faces growing international competition. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has announced major investments intended to challenge China’s dominance in shipbuilding.

Other Chinese companies are also pursuing next-generation maritime technologies. Battery manufacturer CATL has said it could launch its first battery-powered ocean-going vessel within three years. CSSC, which holds roughly one third of the global shipbuilding market, is focusing on AI-driven and new-energy vessels while continuing to build advanced ships such as China’s newest cruise liner and its first deep-ocean drilling ship.

Founded in 1865, Jiangnan Shipyard, known for building China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier, showcased these innovations at the Marintec China exhibition in Shanghai in December 2025.