The 25.5m gt total, according to Clarksons figures, was equivalent to almost 17 percent of the existing China-owned fleet as calculated then. 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 sales even more . The Chinese fleet has grown by 34 % since 2014 to 7,744 ships in 2017 , totalling 170 million gross mt , according to Clarksons Research . 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 exports .
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 sales even more . The Chinese fleet has grown by 34 % since 2014 to 7,744 ships in 2017 , totalling 170 million gross mt , according to Clarksons Research . 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 exports .