China Extends Its Dominance in Global Shipbuilding as Output Surges in 2026
Even as global ship orders declined in 2025, early-2026 data shows a rapid rebound, with China securing the vast majority of new contracts.
Even as global ship orders declined in 2025, early-2026 data shows a rapid rebound, with China securing the vast majority of new contracts.
Production growth remains steady, but trade is increasingly concentrated and price-driven, heightening exposure to energy shocks and critical chokepoints.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed, the Red Sea corridors remain structurally impaired and trade has been rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope.
Manufacturing scale, strong export growth and deepening services trade are repositioning Türkiye as a cost-competitive supply base for Europe.
Steady growth, strong domestic demand and rising FDI are shifting Indonesia from a commodity-led model toward downstream industrialisation.
India provides the region's industrial scale and Bangladesh is driving the fastest export-led expansion.
Manufacturing is expanding steadily in absolute terms, but India’s growth model remains firmly services-led.
Machinery, electronics and vehicles dominate China’s Latin America export basket, driven by Mexico and Brazil.
Exports have stagnated over the past decade, while imports have risen steadily, reinforcing MENA’s demand-led growth story.
China handled 18.3 billion tonnes of port freight in 2025, including 5.7 billion tonnes of foreign trade cargo.