On July 23, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the statistics for the first half of 2026 on China’s shipbuilding industry: ship construction completions stood at 36.5 million deadweight tons, new orders received totaled 12.106 million deadweight tons, and existing orders held amounted to 36.325 million deadweight tons. These three core indicators have reached new record highs. Global market shares reached 62.2%, 82.3%, and 71.2%, respectively. China’s shipbuilding industry has led the global market for 16 consecutive years and is now the only country with complete construction capabilities for aircraft carriers, large LNG carriers, and large cruise ships. In this historic process, composite materials are gradually moving from auxiliary materials to core areas of ship structure, providing critical material support for the lightweight, green, and intelligent transformation of ships.
Green and low-carbon vessels have become a key sector for the transformation and upgrading of China’s shipbuilding industry. By 2025, global orders for new vessels powered by alternative fuels accounted for 55.4% of all new ship orders. The “Outline for the Green Development of the Shipbuilding Industry (2024-2030)” jointly issued by five departments clearly states that by 2025, the international market share of LNG, methanol, and other green-powered vessels will exceed 50%, and by 2030, green ship products will have developed a complete spectrum of supply capabilities.
By 2024, China’s carbon fiber production capacity had reached 150,130 tons, accounting for 48.6% of the global total and ranking first globally. The rapid growth in carbon fiber production capacity has provided a solid raw material guarantee for the application of composite materials in ships. Currently, carbon fiber used in ships primarily consists of grades T300-T700. In the high-end military sector, T800 and higher grades are used. Zhongjian Technology has already achieved the commercial production of ZT9H (grade T1100).
Compared to traditional steel and aluminum alloys, the core advantages of composite materials in ship applications are evident across five dimensions: Weight reduction: Carbon fiber composite ships can weigh up to 20% less than aluminum-built vessels, while the Visby-class carbon fiber laminated hull structure reduces weight by approximately 50% compared to equivalent steel hulls. This weight reduction directly translates to increased speed, lower fuel consumption, and increased payload capacity. Corrosion resistance: Composites are inherently resistant to seawater and corrosive substances, eliminating the need for periodic rust removal and coating maintenance. GFRP hulls can last up to 30 years or more in seawater, significantly reducing the overall maintenance costs throughout their lifespan. Stealth capabilities: Composites have excellent wave-transmission properties, are non-magnetic, and have a low radar cross-section (RCS). The Visby-class frigate employs a carbon fiber laminated structure, which allows it to be detected only 22 kilometers (with no interference) under calm sea conditions. Design flexibility: Composites can be molded into complex curved shapes as a whole, reducing the number of parts and connections, enhancing structural integrity and hydrodynamic performance. While the initial material cost of composites is higher than that of steel, their maintenance-free, long-lasting, and low-fuel-consumption benefits make them competitive in terms of total lifecycle costs. The Norwegian company Brødrene AA uses foam-core CFRP structures to manufacture fast ferries, thereby maximizing their lifespan and reducing overall lifecycle costs.
In the first half of 2026, three key indicators for China’s shipbuilding industry reached new all-time highs, with the global share of new orders surpassing 82%. Out of every 10 new ship orders worldwide, more than 8 were taken by Chinese shipyards. Behind this historic achievement lies the 76-year-old journey of China’s shipbuilding industry from scratch to growth, from small to large, and from weak to strong, as well as the vivid portrayal of China’s manufacturing industry transitioning from “catching up” to “leading the way.”
-----Source: China Composite Materials Industry Association
