Shipbuilding yard in Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

Nantong accounted for about 12.8 percent of global new ship orders by deadweight tonnage in the first nine months of 2026, with new orders soaring 597.5 percent year-on-year, according to the Nantong municipal bureau of industry and information technology.

From January to September, the city completed ships with a combined deadweight tonnage of 6.17 million metric tons, up 16.3 percent year-on-year. New orders reached 27.45 million deadweight tons, while its orderbook stood at 50.71 million deadweight tons at the end of September, up 107.5 percent.

The surge reflects rising global demand for cleaner-fuel vessels as the shipping industry pursues decarbonization, as well as growing demand for large-capacity ships amid geopolitical shifts, according to the local bureau. Improved conditions for international ship trade have also supported the market.

Local shipbuilders have taken advantage of these trends by investing early in green, low-carbon and smart vessel designs, backed by strong project management and precision manufacturing capabilities.

New contracts increasingly cover high-value vessels, including very large crude carriers, very large gas carriers, liquefied natural gas carriers and pure car and truck carriers, highlighting the industry's shift toward advanced, intelligent and environmentally friendly shipbuilding.

Nantong's offshore engineering sector is also expanding. This year, local companies have secured major contracts for floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) projects in Southeast Asia and West Africa, demonstrating their growing ability to deliver complex offshore engineering projects.

As of the end of September, local shipbuilders have held orders for 295 vessels and offshore platforms, with deliveries scheduled as far ahead as 2031.

Meanwhile, 13 provincial-level major projects in high-tech ships and offshore engineering equipment are underway in Nantong, with total investment exceeding 35.2 billion yuan ($5.28 billion), further strengthening the city's industrial supply chain.