Vessels take shape along the dock in Yongquan town, Linhai, Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on Feb 7. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang's marine shipbuilding industry posted record value added of 24.7 billion yuan ($3.61 billion) in 2025, up 25.3 percent year-on-year, as local shipbuilders expanded their order books and broadened their product mix across 13 of the world's 18 major vessel types.

Order backlogs at shipyards in the province reached 24.595 million metric tons last year, an increase of 41.4 percent from a year earlier. The figures point to strong momentum in a sector that remains in an upcycle.

Shipbuilders in Zhejiang have stayed busy since the start of 2026. At Zhejiang Tianshi Ship, large modular sections and steel materials fill the yard, while welding and assembly efforts continue at full pace.

Gao Feng, chief engineer of the company, said the shipbuilder generated more than 600 million yuan in output value in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, the company maintained full-capacity operations, with total output value roughly unchanged from the same period last year.

Gao said the industry is still in a golden period, with the company's orders scheduled through around 2028, mainly from the domestic market. He added that the current peak is expected to begin easing gradually around 2030.