https://www.scmp.com/rss/520940/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Pentagon is considering outsourcing warship design and building to South Korea and Japan with a proposed US$1.85 billion feasibility study into the project, according to US media reports. The study – included in the 2027 budget – will look at the feasibility of adopting or co-producing advanced hulls such as Japan’s Mogami-class and South Korea’s Daegu-class frigates to supplement the US Navy’s overstretched production lines, USNI News reported on Friday. If the plan goes ahead it will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351627/pentagon-mulls-plan-outsource-warship-design-and-building-south-korea-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351627/pentagon-mulls-plan-outsource-warship-design-and-building-south-korea-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:02:11 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has delivered its largest-ever liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, bringing the number of domestic shipyards capable of designing and building the advanced vessels to five, as the country steps up its challenge to South Korea’s dominance in the high-value sector. The milestone was marked by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu), a subsidiary of China Merchants Group, which delivered the 180,000-cubic-metre (6.36-million cubic-feet) vessel on Sunday, according to a company press... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351546/china-delivers-record-lng-carrier-shipbuilding-rivalry-south-korea-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:48:04 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s shipyards are emerging as beneficiaries from the US-Israeli war on Iran, securing new orders as crude transport bottlenecks worsen and global demand for large oil tankers rises. With the United States and Iran effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint that handles about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil – shipping companies are racing to expand capacity, particularly in very large crude carriers (VLCCs) capable of transporting about 2 million barrels of oil per... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350872/chinas-shipyards-secure-wave-oil-tanker-orders-iran-war-drives-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350872/chinas-shipyards-secure-wave-oil-tanker-orders-iran-war-drives-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang US President Donald Trump’s long-standing obsession with sea power was underscored by his pledge to rebuild the US Navy into what he called a “Golden Fleet” as he returned to the White House. His financial year 2027 budget released on April 3 puts a price tag on the ambition: US$65.8 billion for 34 warships, including initial funding for a next-generation battleship he wants to name after himself, part of the largest US$1.5 trillion defence-spending request in history. But analysts say the... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3350866/trumps-military-push-confronts-us-lawmakers-and-chinas-shipbuilding-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/politics/article/3350866/trumps-military-push-confronts-us-lawmakers-and-chinas-shipbuilding-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China is ramping up efforts to deeply integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its shipping industry by 2027, targeting breakthroughs in core technologies to build a smart maritime system as global competition intensifies. A new action plan by the Ministry of Transport and three other government bodies outlined a road map that includes creating at least three comprehensive pilot zones, launching more than five trial routes, developing over 10 replicable smart-shipping use cases and deploying... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:09:50 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the country with the world’s largest cohort of billionaires, China is no stranger to wealthy elites engaging in luxurious leisure activities, but one common pastime in the West does not seem to have attracted a commensurate level of interest across the Pacific – yachting. While Chinese e-commerce billionaire Richard Liu recently announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new yacht company, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps have kept China’s wealthiest individuals from fully... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi The havoc unleashed on global shipping by the US-Israel war on Iran has underlined China’s urgent need to fix its lack of a robust maritime insurance industry, a shipping expert has said. “In the maritime shipping sector, China’s industrial chain for ‘hardware’ is very well-established and mature,” said Chen Jihong, director of the Shenzhen International Maritime Research Institute. “However, when it comes to ‘software’, we are still constrained by others, and it will be difficult to change any... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348096/iran-war-shows-chinas-urgent-need-plug-maritime-insurance-gap-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348096/iran-war-shows-chinas-urgent-need-plug-maritime-insurance-gap-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US-Israel war on Iran strains global energy supplies, Japan is discussing reviving domestic production of liquefied natural gas carriers for the first time in more than half a decade to bolster its national security. The move would see Japanese shipbuilders return to a market that is currently dominated by China and South Korea, as Tokyo looks to revitalise its maritime sector and shore up its energy security. Japan’s shipbuilding working group – comprising industry experts and government... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3347180/not-easy-japan-mulls-building-its-own-lng-carriers-amid-iran-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3347180/not-easy-japan-mulls-building-its-own-lng-carriers-amid-iran-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In 2022, the world’s largest electric cruise ship embarked on its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei province. The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, which can carry up to 1,300 passengers, runs on battery power and can reportedly save 530 tonnes of fuel and 1,660 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. The vessel displayed the commercial and technical feasibility of electric ships. China is the world’s largest shipbuilder and the pre-eminent manufacturer of electric vehicles and advanced batteries. Now,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Li Yanqing, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (Cansi), discusses the impact of US trade policies, global market cycles and China’s strategic pivot towards high-quality manufacturing. As a shipbuilding veteran who also serves as chairman of the ISO/TC 8 ships and marine technology committee, which oversees international standardisation for shipbuilding and marine operations, Li is a prominent voice for China’s industry on... https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/global-economy/article/3345071/us-shipbuilding-revival-looks-dead-water-chinas-li-yanqing-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/global-economy/article/3345071/us-shipbuilding-revival-looks-dead-water-chinas-li-yanqing-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 03:15:11 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Li Yanqing, executive vice-president and secretary general of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (Cansi), discusses the impact of US trade policies, global market cycles and China’s strategic pivot towards high-quality manufacturing. As a shipbuilding veteran who also serves as chairman of the ISO/TC 8 ships and marine technology committee, which oversees international standardisation for shipbuilding and marine operations, Li is a prominent voice for China’s industry on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345013/top-china-shipbuilding-voice-li-yanqing-why-us-industry-cant-be-rebuilt-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345013/top-china-shipbuilding-voice-li-yanqing-why-us-industry-cant-be-rebuilt-overnight?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:00:14 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen Beijing appears to be testing its 155mm (6.1-inch) naval gun to boost the PLA Navy’s land-attack firepower. The weapon would be the biggest in the People’s Liberation Army’s naval arsenal and could be useful in an amphibious operation against Taiwan. Photos of the massive weapon mounted on the bow of a test vessel have recently emerged on Chinese social media. The location was identified as the Liaonan shipyard in Dalian, in China’s northeastern Liaoning province. The estimated barrel length and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344362/chinas-155mm-naval-gun-seen-test-vessel-signalling-boost-amphibious-landing-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s first home-grown large cruise ship has now handled 1 million passengers since its commercial debut two years ago, a sign of progress as Beijing strives to boost household spending on services and cultivate new growth drivers. The operator of the Adora Magic City announced the news via its website on Sunday, saying it aimed to propel the growth of China’s cruise economy and establish a “Chinese benchmark” for the global cruise industry. Construction of the company’s second domestically... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342933/chinas-cruise-industry-passes-major-milestone-beijing-eyes-travel-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342933/chinas-cruise-industry-passes-major-milestone-beijing-eyes-travel-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China secured the most new shipbuilding orders globally in 2025 despite a slight dip in market share, showing enduring market dominance amid industry turbulence sparked by US threats targeting the Chinese maritime sector, official data showed. Chinese shipyards secured 107.8 million deadweight tonnage (DWT) in new orders in 2025 – a 4.6 per cent year-on-year decline – accounting for 69 per cent of the global market, down from a 74.1 per cent share in 2024, according to data released on Sunday by... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342091/china-navigates-us-threats-anchor-global-shipbuilding-dominance-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342091/china-navigates-us-threats-anchor-global-shipbuilding-dominance-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The US Secretary of the Navy on Tuesday outlined US President Donald Trump’s Golden Fleet initiative, stating that revitalising the American shipbuilding industry was essential for restoring strategic maritime dominance over China. Speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium, Secretary John Phelan emphasised the importance of a strong industrial base, warning that the US Navy is currently unable to compete with Beijing’s production capacity. “To be a superpower, you need a dominant... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339933/trumps-golden-fleet-shipbuilding-push-give-us-military-and-strategic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339933/trumps-golden-fleet-shipbuilding-push-give-us-military-and-strategic-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:05:43 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China retained its position as the world’s top shipbuilder in 2025, but its market share declined for the first time in five years as US threats to impose port fees on Chinese-linked vessels sparked market turbulence. Chinese shipyards secured 35.4 million compensated gross tonnage (CGT) of new vessel orders last year, down 35 per cent compared with 2024, the Chinese maritime news outlet eworldship.com reported on Thursday, citing data from shipping consultancy Clarksons. China’s shipbuilders... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339308/chinas-shipyards-still-lead-world-us-threats-took-toll-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339308/chinas-shipyards-still-lead-world-us-threats-took-toll-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Images of a cargo ship in Shanghai carrying containerised vertical launchers, sensors and self-defence systems have spread online and prompted discussion for apparently showing China’s capacity to convert civilian cargo vessels to military purposes. The circulated images show vertical launch systems, rotary phased-array radars, over-the-horizon radars, close-in weapon systems and decoy launchers mounted atop containers on a cargo vessel. This configuration appears to be a temporary installation,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337842/china-quietly-preparing-cargo-ships-transform-military-vessels-case-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3337842/china-quietly-preparing-cargo-ships-transform-military-vessels-case-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:00:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump announced the US Navy would build a new “Trump-class” battleship as part of the White House push to modernise a fleet that has been hobbled by years of cost overruns and delays. A poster displayed at the event at Trump’s gilded Mar-a-Lago estate featured an artist’s rendering of a sleek-looking warship dubbed the USS Defiant, cutting through choppy waters with a laser beam shooting from its deck and smoke billowing from a target in the background. Next to the ship was a... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337404/trump-unveils-trump-class-battleship-us-shipbuilding-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3337404/trump-unveils-trump-class-battleship-us-shipbuilding-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:21:46 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren State-owned Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) plans to build the world’s first nuclear-powered container vessel, a move that would cement China’s dominance in an industry increasingly shifting to renewable energy. Lin Qingshan, vice-president of the Shanghai-based shipbuilder, told the Post on Thursday that a 25,000-container vessel was being designed, adding that these next-generation ships would use nuclear power. Construction could start in 10 years’ time, he said. “We will also invest in building... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335338/jiangnan-shipyard-build-worlds-first-thorium-powered-container-vessel-2035?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335338/jiangnan-shipyard-build-worlds-first-thorium-powered-container-vessel-2035?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:30:13 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese shipyards, facing a drop in orders, plan to divert more capacity towards new-energy and advanced vessels to maintain profitability as they face mounting challenges from South Korean counterparts, industry officials say. The country’s shipbuilding firms, from gargantuan state-owned China State Ship­building Corp (CSSC) to privately owned shipyards, held 65 per cent of global orders in deadweight tonnage terms during the first three quarters of 2025, compared with about 75 per cent a year... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335104/chinese-shipyards-shift-focus-advanced-vessels-south-korean-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3335104/chinese-shipyards-shift-focus-advanced-vessels-south-korean-rivals-gain-ground?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Beijing is extending an olive branch to overseas companies as it seeks to build a more integrated global supply chain for the shipbuilding industry, in its latest push to project goodwill and support free trade. Gao Dongsheng, chief economist at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said on Tuesday that China was committed to further opening up its shipbuilding sector. Mainland shipyards, which currently have a capacity to build about 65 million deadweight tonnes of large... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334950/beijing-woos-foreign-firms-china-seeks-bigger-role-global-shipbuilding-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334950/beijing-woos-foreign-firms-china-seeks-bigger-role-global-shipbuilding-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China State Ship­building Corp (CSSC), the world’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate controlling one-third of the global market, has pledged to build more cruise ships, deep-ocean drilling ships and nuclear-powered vessels as part of efforts to diversify its portfolio, according to a senior executive. Assistant president Ma Yunxiang said on Monday the company’s growing strength in building advanced vessels was reflected in the construction of Adora Flora City, mainland China’s second self-built... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334790/chinas-giant-shipbuilder-cssc-unveils-plans-cruise-deep-sea-nuclear-powered-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3334790/chinas-giant-shipbuilder-cssc-unveils-plans-cruise-deep-sea-nuclear-powered-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has announced plans to consolidate the cruise operations of four central state-owned enterprises into a single entity that will reportedly operate the largest fleet in Asia, as part of a broader efficiency drive. China Tourism Group – one of the four companies – was designated as the operator of the venture at a signing ceremony hosted by China’s state-owned enterprises watchdog on Friday, according to state broadcaster CCTV. After the deal goes through, the venture will operate Asia’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333950/chinas-cruise-industry-makes-waves-new-deal-creates-asias-largest-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3333950/chinas-cruise-industry-makes-waves-new-deal-creates-asias-largest-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:17 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan The decision to suspend new port fees on Chinese-built, owned, or operated vessels starting on Monday has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who say it undercuts US President Donald Trump’s claims of being tough on China. They are not alone in pushing back. While shippers see the move easing costs and boosting trade, labour unions are warning that it could weaken American maritime leverage, send the wrong signal to Beijing, and contradict the administration’s own rhetoric on holding China... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332258/us-china-port-fee-suspension-draws-major-backlash-well-huge-relief?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 22:39:36 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A group of trade unions led by the United Steelworkers slammed the Trump administration for suspending port fees on Chinese ships that workers argued would bring about a revival in the once-dominant domestic shipbuilding industry. The unions expressed “strong disappointment” with the administration’s decision and said it would have negative consequences in the nation’s attempt to restore the US maritime sector, according to a letter sent to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The letter,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332078/us-unions-slam-trump-giving-china-pass-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3332078/us-unions-slam-trump-giving-china-pass-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 22:23:26 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo “Hydraulic or magnets?” US President Donald Trump asked some baffled American troops stationed in Japan during his visit this week, and demanded to know which was better. That was during a speech aboard the USS George Washington, before hundreds of American servicemen and women who appeared to have no idea what their commander-in-chief was talking about. “You know, the new thing is magnets. So instead of using hydraulic that you can be hit by lightning and it’s fine, you take a little glass of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330862/trumps-rare-earths-rant-us-soldiers-find-weary-world-policeman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330862/trumps-rare-earths-rant-us-soldiers-find-weary-world-policeman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:30:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The port-fee postponement announced by China and the United States offers a glimmer of relief to the shipping industry, but analysts warn that a one-year suspension is insufficient to eliminate persistent uncertainties, as maritime measures continue to serve as leverage in broader geopolitical tensions. Following the highly anticipated meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in South Korea on Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that the US would suspend its Section... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331042/us-china-port-fee-pause-buoys-shipping-optimism-despite-1-year-duration-lingering-concern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331042/us-china-port-fee-pause-buoys-shipping-optimism-despite-1-year-duration-lingering-concern?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 07:01:32 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang US President Donald Trump said he had approved plans for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine in Philadelphia – praising Seoul as a “serious partner” in efforts to revive US shipbuilding – in a social post released just ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “South Korea will be building its nuclear-powered submarine in the Philadelphia shipyards,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Thursday morning. “I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330850/trump-greenlights-south-korea-nuclear-submarine-plan-ahead-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330850/trump-greenlights-south-korea-nuclear-submarine-plan-ahead-xi-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:49:19 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang If the US hopes to rebuild a competitive shipbuilding industry and narrow China’s commanding lead, it should adopt some lessons from Beijing – emphasising long-term planning, steady government funding and policy consistency, witnesses told a US Senate hearing this week. China’s phenomenal rise in the global shipbuilding sector has caught the attention of Washington’s policymakers who are keen to restore the nation’s commercial fleet and production capacity, leading many to blame China for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3330819/american-lawmakers-told-us-must-learn-china-revive-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3330819/american-lawmakers-told-us-must-learn-china-revive-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:09:27 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang With US President Donald Trump having kicked off his visit to Asia, new collaborations in shipbuilding with Japan and South Korea are set to advance amid ongoing port-fee disputes with China, as Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s dominance in the maritime sector. The US government has committed to reviving its nearly defunct shipbuilding industry through strategic partnerships, with key allies Japan and South Korea – major shipbuilding countries – welcoming the initiative with open... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330484/counter-china-trumps-asia-trip-shore-maritime-alliances-japan-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3330484/counter-china-trumps-asia-trip-shore-maritime-alliances-japan-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:00:32 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The fallout from the US-China port fee battle is still rippling through the global shipping sector as companies scramble to adapt. Yet, despite the drama, industry players still expect China to retain its edge as a leading shipbuilder – especially if the sector presses ahead with its green transition plans. The United States imposed steep new levies on Chinese-linked vessels entering American ports earlier this month as part of a wider push to curtail China’s dominance of global shipbuilding,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329799/why-chinas-shipyards-still-have-clear-edge-over-rivals-despite-us-port-fee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:32 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Shipping companies are rushing to divert vessels and adjust their corporate structures, as they strive to minimise their exposure to steep new US and Chinese port fees that took effect on Tuesday. The United States has targeted Chinese-linked vessels with hefty charges as part of a broader push to curtail China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, prompting Beijing to impose similar duties on US-owned or operated ships in an apparent tit-for-tat move. European shipping giants Maersk and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329246/ships-divert-directors-resign-us-china-port-fees-rock-shipping-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329246/ships-divert-directors-resign-us-china-port-fees-rock-shipping-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 02:00:31 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As China and the United States begin charging additional port fees on Tuesday, analysts warn the global shipping industry faces growing uncertainty and turmoil – though Beijing’s exemption of domestically built vessels is expected to limit the impact. China announced retaliatory port fees last Friday and released implementation details in the first hour of Tuesday – the same day the Chinese and US measures took effect. Fees will be waived for vessels built in China and for empty vessels arriving... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328979/china-and-us-impose-rival-port-fees-global-shipping-industry-braces-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328979/china-and-us-impose-rival-port-fees-global-shipping-industry-braces-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As a new US port fee targeting China-built or -operated vessels is set to take effect in two weeks, China has revised its international maritime transport rules to allow retaliatory measures, including charging special fees or restricting access to Chinese ports. China will implement necessary countermeasures against any country or region that imposes or supports discriminatory bans, restrictions or similar measures targeting Chinese operators, vessels or crews, according to the revision... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3327389/china-issues-retaliatory-rules-ahead-us-port-fee-targeting-chinese-vessels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo A contract for four new Chinese-built ferries has become the centre of a political storm in Canada. Why a simple purchase by a ferry service operating exclusively in the province of British Columbia (BC) should concern the federal government so much says a lot about the hysteria the Made-in-China label can generate among some Canadian politicians. After all, we are not talking about Chinese electric cars, which agents of Beijing, according to some fanciful borderline sci-fi accounts, could... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327160/chinese-ferries-caught-political-storm-canadian-teacup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3327160/chinese-ferries-caught-political-storm-canadian-teacup?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:17:45 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok US hopes of getting China to place big orders of Boeing jets have risen anew after reports of progress, including a framework agreement on TikTok, at the fourth round of trade negotiations in the Spanish capital of Madrid. Praising the progress, US President Donald Trump said he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Seoul, which starts at the end of next month, and plans to visit China early next year. But why would China wish to buy US... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3326257/how-will-trump-revive-us-shipbuilding-after-years-protectionist-rot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3326257/how-will-trump-revive-us-shipbuilding-after-years-protectionist-rot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China is closely monitoring its shipbuilding capacity to avoid an oversupply of production facilities in a global industry dominated by the country, according to an official from the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI). Tan Naifen, deputy secretary general of the government-backed organisation, said in an interview with the Post on Wednesday that authorities recognised the risks associated with reckless investments in shipyards. As a result, they had established a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325893/china-monitors-shipbuilding-capacity-prevent-oversupply-state-backed-group-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325893/china-monitors-shipbuilding-capacity-prevent-oversupply-state-backed-group-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:00:46 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Chinese shipping companies are working with global partners to reduce their US exposure and explore more regional market opportunities, as the industry braces for the introduction of steep new US port fees in October. Washington plans to charge Chinese-linked vessels hefty fees to enter US ports as part of a drive to rein in China’s globally dominant shipyards, and the controversial new levies are already driving deep changes in the shipping industry. “The container shipping industry is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324007/chinas-shipping-firms-lean-alliances-ride-out-us-port-fee-storm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324007/chinas-shipping-firms-lean-alliances-ride-out-us-port-fee-storm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings South Korea’s investments announced this week for the US shipbuilding sector will mildly rock China’s busy shipyards but – at least in the short term – are unlikely to put a dent in the Chinese industry, which enjoys scale and cost advantages over other countries, according to analysts. The rack of intended investments from major companies in South Korea, the world’s second-largest shipbuilding nation after China, could test the Chinese sector after the US projects get moving several years down... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323226/korean-deals-us-will-rock-not-sink-chinas-giant-shipbuilding-sector-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323226/korean-deals-us-will-rock-not-sink-chinas-giant-shipbuilding-sector-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet US President Donald Trump later today in Washington, as part of a three-pronged foreign policy push that also included visiting Japan and reaching out to China. Lee’s White House talks will probably cover security concerns about China and North Korea, the role of US forces on the Korean peninsula and industrial cooperation. US officials have pressed South Korea to shoulder a bigger share of the security burden in Asia and called for “strategic... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3323054/trump-lee-meeting-shows-limits-chinas-asia-wooing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3323054/trump-lee-meeting-shows-limits-chinas-asia-wooing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:14 +0000 Carl Zhang Carl Zhang A fleet of large civilian cargo ships has sailed through the Taiwan Strait after heading south from the Bohai Sea off northern mainland China, prompting speculation about a possible joint amphibious landing drill with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The seven ro-ro, or “roll-on/roll-off” ships, with the Yantai-based Bohai Ferry Company in Shandong province, deviated from their normal shipping routes in the Bohai Sea, according to Maritime Optima, a live ship tracker. As of Thursday, two of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322697/why-are-7-large-mainland-chinese-ro-ro-cargo-ships-sailing-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322697/why-are-7-large-mainland-chinese-ro-ro-cargo-ships-sailing-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US seeks to curb China’s shipbuilding dominance, South Korea is looking to capitalise by expanding its overseas footprint through shipyard investments in the Philippines and Vietnam. Analysts said South Korean shipbuilders may view the move as a way to tackle constraints that have diminished their competitiveness against China, such as limited capacity, labour shortages and tensions with domestic trade unions. Shifting operations to Southeast Asia, where labour costs are lower, could... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321734/trumps-curbs-chinas-shipbuilding-edge-spur-south-korean-investments-asean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321734/trumps-curbs-chinas-shipbuilding-edge-spur-south-korean-investments-asean?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:00:08 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China has launched its first drone ship to recover reusable rockets – becoming only the second country after the United States to master the technology – as Beijing pushes forward with its ambitious space programme. The launch of the new vessel marks a major step forward for China’s push to develop reusable rockets – a technology seen as vital to helping the country cut the cost of space travel and develop a commercial space industry. Beijing aims to catch up with the US in an intensifying space... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321210/china-launches-new-spacex-style-drone-ship-recover-reusable-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321210/china-launches-new-spacex-style-drone-ship-recover-reusable-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:27:55 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s two major shipbuilders appear to be mere days from completing a merger that will form the largest publicly listed shipbuilding company in the world. The China Shipbuilding Industry Company announced that next Tuesday will be the final trading day for its shares before the company is absorbed by China CSSC Holdings. Analysts have deemed the move a strategic masterstroke in Beijing’s broader industrial and military ambitions, particularly as the United States increasingly views China as a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320981/chinas-mammoth-merger-shipbuilders-nears-and-so-do-industry-implications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320981/chinas-mammoth-merger-shipbuilders-nears-and-so-do-industry-implications?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:00:07 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma South Korea pledged US$150 billion to “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) as part of a bilateral trade agreement, bolstering US President Donald Trump’s efforts to curb China’s dominance of the sector. The initiative helped South Korea secure a cut in Trump’s new reciprocal tariff to 15 per cent from the 25 per cent announced on “Liberation Day” in April (See the SCMP Plus Trump 2.0 tariffs tracker). The Asian nation also promised to invest US$200 billion in technology sectors, such... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3320673/trumps-china-shipyard-challenge-gets-korea-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3320673/trumps-china-shipyard-challenge-gets-korea-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:00:59 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang South Korea has pledged US$150 billion to help its shipbuilders enter the US market as part of its new trade deal with Washington, a move that could help America revive its shipbuilding industry and counter China’s dominance in the sector. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States and South Korea had agreed a “full and complete” trade deal, which would see the US impose a 15 per cent tariff on South Korean goods and receive US$350 billion of investment from its... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320297/behind-trumps-south-korea-deal-plan-transform-global-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320297/behind-trumps-south-korea-deal-plan-transform-global-shipbuilding?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As US President Donald Trump reiterates his desire to acquire Greenland – part of a broader push to assert influence in the Arctic – Chinese scholars are debating whether the world’s second-largest economy should become more involved in the region, particularly by developing shipping routes. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) – the shortest passage between the Asia-Pacific region and western Eurasia – has drawn growing attention as global warming makes its icy waters navigable for longer periods each... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319561/trumps-arctic-strategy-stirs-debate-over-chinas-polar-shipping-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319561/trumps-arctic-strategy-stirs-debate-over-chinas-polar-shipping-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China retained its leading position in the global shipbuilding market during the first half of the year, according to data from the industry association, despite a decline in market share caused by buyers’ concerns over the threat of US port fees on Chinese-built vessels. It secured 68.3 per cent of new vessel orders in the global market in the first six months of the year, compared with 74.7 per cent in the same period last year, China’s shipbuilding industry association said on Monday. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3319284/chinas-shipbuilding-lead-endures-market-share-dips-amid-us-port-fee-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3319284/chinas-shipbuilding-lead-endures-market-share-dips-amid-us-port-fee-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:00:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang A Chinese company has converted a giant cargo ship into a mobile fish farm as part of a project that aims to boost the nation’s food security by repurposing old vessels for use in aquaculture. The ship, named the Zhe Dai Yu Yang 60001, is a hulking bulk carrier measuring 225 metres in length and 32.2 metres in width, which used to have a capacity of 80,000 deadweight tonnes. But it will now be used to produce up to 2,800 tonnes of fish per year after its conversion by a subsidiary of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319136/china-converts-cargo-ship-giant-fish-farm-food-security-push-gets-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319136/china-converts-cargo-ship-giant-fish-farm-food-security-push-gets-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Already the world’s busiest shipping port, China’s financial centre Shanghai is now positioning itself as a world-class shipbuilding hub, with an eye on high-value models such as those designed to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) and containers. The Shanghai municipal government has unveiled plans to augment its shipyards on Changxing Island, situated across the southern mouth of the Yangtze River and near the Yangshan Deep-Water Port. The Yangshan facility, a component of the Port of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318744/china-shores-status-top-shipbuilder-shanghai-port-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318744/china-shores-status-top-shipbuilder-shanghai-port-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:30:26 +0000