China’s shipbuilding output in Q1 2020 (Jan-March) declined by 27.3pc to 7mn dwt (deadweight tonnage) from the previous year. Of the total production, 1.96mn gross tons (gt) included sea vessels, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Despite orders for new ships rising by 6.5pc to 4.89mn dwt from a year ago, the COVID19 pandemic situation impacted China’s shipbuilding Industry. By March-end orders placed with China for handheld ships dropped by 5.6pc from 79.55mn dwt in the previous year. This included 26.06mn gt of sea vessels.