China claims 47 percent of new shipbuilding orders worldwide in May 2026

In May, China attracted 47 percent of new shipbuilding orders (2.11 million CGT, 97 ships) worldwide, ranking first in the global market for the 14th consecutive month, while South Korea claimed a 44 percent share (1.99 million CGT), ranking second, according to According to data published by Clarksons, the world's leading provider of integrated transportation services.

In May, new shipbuilding orders totaling 4.52 million CGT were placed on the global market, which is 91.0 percent more than last year and 47 percent less on a monthly basis.