Fifteen major marine engineering companies from Qidong took part in the seventh Nantong Marine Engineering Industry Exhibition at the Nantong International Convention and Exhibition Center from Sept 16 to 19.

A vessel model is showcased at the booth of Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering at the exhibition. [Photo/WeChat account: qidongfabu]

At the exhibition, the booth of Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering attracted visitors. A model of its 63,800-deadweight-metric-ton bulk carrier was among the highlights. The company said the vessel has secured 175 orders and delivered 102 ships, with its products exported to more than 10 countries and regions.

A marine equipment technology exchange and business matchmaking conference was also held on Sept 16, providing a platform for companies on both the supply and demand sides to connect and explore opportunities for cooperation.

After the conference, Shi Haidong, the project manager of the international trade department at Jiangsu Shentong Valve, held one-on-one discussions with several companies. As a result, he established preliminary intentions for cooperation with three to four of them.

Qidong has developed a marine engineering and shipbuilding industry cluster, supported by 185 kilometers of river and coastal shoreline and 45 square kilometers of contiguous port-side industrial land. Currently, more than 200 companies are part of its marine engineering industrial chain, including 115 enterprises above designated size.

The marine engineering and shipbuilding industry in Qidong generated 47.2 billion yuan ($7.03 billion) in output value in 2025, marking double-digit growth for the third consecutive year.