China has overtaken Japan to become the largest shipping owner in the world after Greece and newbuild orders for ore carriers, tankers and container ships are set to boost capacity even more. Powerful fleet expansion The Chinese government is also investing heavily into its maritime industry with a new $45 billion plan that includes plans to expand China's overseas trade by more than 50 percent over the next decade. The Greek fleet, which has grown by 23% in the same time, was 222 million mt and the Japanese 167.6 million mt. Shipbuilding orders from China at the end of 2017 totalled 25.5 million gross mt, representing a 17% increase in the country’s fleet.
China has overtaken Japan to become the largest shipping owner in the world after Greece and newbuild orders for ore carriers, tankers and container ships are set to boost capacity even more. The Chinese government is also investing heavily into its maritime industry with a new $45 billion plan that includes plans to expand China's overseas trade by more than 50 percent over the next decade. The Greek fleet, which has grown by 23% in the same time, was 222 million mt and the Japanese 167.6 million mt. Shipbuilding orders from China at the end of 2017 totalled 25.5 million gross mt, representing a 17% increase in the country’s fleet.