China's shipbuilding industry is accelerating its transition toward greener and smarter development, in line with the global maritime sector's push for decarbonization and technological innovation, according to a report released in Athens on Wednesday.
The report, jointly published by the Shanghai Headquarters of China Economic Information Service, China Shipbuilding Economic Research Center and Xinhua News Agency's Europe Regional Bureau, provides a comprehensive review of the latest developments in China's shipbuilding industry, highlighting progress in green and intelligent transformation.
According to the report, China is steadily advancing from being the world's largest shipbuilder to becoming a leading global shipbuilding power.
The report cites strong industry performance in the first quarter of 2026. New orders received by Chinese shipyards surged by more than 190 percent year on year, while green vessels accounted for 80.2 percent of total new orders, underscoring the industry's growing commitment to sustainable development.
In the field of green and low-carbon technologies, China has established a diversified industrial ecosystem covering multiple alternative marine fuels, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.
The report also notes significant progress in intelligent manufacturing. China's shipbuilding sector has moved beyond isolated digital applications toward the development of integrated smart factories and digitally connected production systems.
Despite these achievements, the report highlights several challenges facing the industry.
Uncertainty remains over the future technological pathways for global maritime decarbonization, while supporting infrastructure such as bunkering facilities for alternative fuels remains insufficient in many regions. In addition, mechanisms for sharing and absorbing the additional costs associated with green shipping require further improvement.
The report also points to uneven levels of digitalization among small and medium-sized suppliers, as well as challenges related to data security, standards compatibility and international recognition of technical standards.
Looking ahead, the report says that green and intelligent development will serve as the twin drivers of high-quality growth for China's shipbuilding industry and support its deeper integration into the global maritime value chain.
The report was officially released during the Posidonia China Night event, held on the sidelines of Posidonia 2026, one of the world's leading shipping exhibitions.
The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of China in Greece, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Economic Information Service.
More than 200 representatives from government agencies, businesses, shipping companies, financial institutions and media organizations from China and Greece attended the event. Participants exchanged views on shipbuilding, port operations, maritime finance and industrial and supply chain cooperation.
Industry experts said the report offers the international maritime community a comprehensive overview of the achievements and transformation of China's shipbuilding sector, particularly in green development, intelligent manufacturing and global collaboration.
They noted that the report will help international shipowners and maritime institutions gain a deeper understanding of China's shipbuilding capabilities and contribute Chinese expertise and solutions to the global maritime industry's transition toward a greener and more sustainable future.
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