Top 10 Maritime Countries in the World. China is sailing under full sail.
Fot.: Marek Grzybowski
By The People’s Republic of China tops the ranking of the world’s 10 leading maritime nations in 2026. China dominates the shipbuilding industry and the value of its merchant fleet. It holds a leading position among the largest fleet owners in terms of vessel capacity and number of vessels. It also leads in terms of the number of vessels. The country also has a large fleet of fishing vessels.
In the first quarter of 2026, the Chinese shipbuilding industry strengthened its position as the leading producer of commercial vessels. The global shipbuilding industry was dominated by Chinese shipbuilders in the first quarter of this year. This dominance was evident in all major categories. China’s shipbuilding industry has also made a dynamic entry into the market for technically and organizationally complex vessels. The logistics of passenger ship and naval ship production have also been mastered.
Completed shipbuilding reached 15.68 million tons deadweight (DWT) between January and March 2026, a 46% increase compared to the same period a year earlier, reports the Global Times, citing data from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. During the same period, new contracts increased by 195.2% year-on-year, reaching 59.53 million DWT. Simultaneously, the total order backlog increased by 43.6% to 322.3 million DWT by the end of March 2026.
In April of this year, it was estimated that China accounted for 57.3% of global shipbuilding, held contracts for 84.9% of new orders, and captured 69.8% of the global order backlog. Chinese shipbuilders capitalized on the current economic situation and the growing global demand for shipbuilding. In March alone, Global ship contracts reached 4.06 million CGT. China maintained its leading position, securing a 53% market share, while South Korea came in second with a 39% share, according to Clarkson Research, as reported by the Seoul Economic Daily.
Beyond its strong position, China has become a leading merchant fleet operator. In 2025, it ranked second globally in terms of deadweight tonnage (347 million DWT, 14.4% share), behind Greece (16.4%), and has the second-largest merchant fleet in terms of number of ships (10,288). At the same time, China leads in terms of fleet value (12.4% of global value), underscoring its growing role in higher-value segments, according to analysts at Andaman Partners in their April report.
A Ship Game Worth Over USD 290 Billion
In 2026, China maintained its leading position in both value and number of ships, with a fleet worth USD 291,158 million. This represents the value of 9,375 ships managed by Chinese operators, according to Rebecca Galanopoulos, an analyst at Veson Nautical. The value of the Chinese fleet increased from USD 255,236 million in 2025, a significant increase of approximately 4% year-on-year. China is the leading force in terms of the value of its bulk carrier fleet. Their value is approximately USD 83.8 billion, while in 2025, the value of bulk carriers owned by Chinese shipowners is estimated at over USD 68.54 billion.
The value of China’s container ship fleet has been estimated at nearly $65.9 billion, while Japanese operators have a container ship fleet worth $41.4 billion, and Greece, in third place, has a container ship fleet worth over $23.7 billion. Within a year, the value of China’s tanker fleet increased from approximately $48 billion to over $56 billion. The value of China’s LNG carrier fleet increased dramatically, from $26.9 billion in 2025 to over $33.9 billion.
Top 10 Maritime Countries by Fleet Value. Source: Veson Nautical
Japan ranks just behind China, maintaining second place in the 2026 rankings with a fleet valued at USD 232 billion. Its strength is determined by its fleet of bulk carriers (approximately USD 68 billion), oil tankers (USD 38.3 billion), LNG tankers (over USD 34.6 billion), and container ships (over USD 41.4 billion). Japan dominates LNG and LPG tankers and has a strong position in the vehicle transport market.
Greece’s fleet ranks third with a fleet valued at approximately USD 200 billion (over USD 188 billion in 2025). The 2026 result is significantly influenced by the value of its tanker fleet (over USD 77.4 billion), bulk carriers (over USD 56.4 billion), and LNG tankers (approximately USD 30.3 billion). Greece has the second-largest bulk carrier fleet, with a total of 2,561 vessels, but ranks third in terms of value, ahead of Japan with a fleet value of $68 billion, compared to $56 million for Greece.
The United States holds fourth place for another year, with a fleet value of $141 billion. This is due to the dominance of American operators in the cruise ship market. Their fleet value is estimated at $79 billion. Over the year, the value of these operators’ fleets has seen a significant increase of approximately 34% compared to 2025, according to analyst Veson Nautical, explaining the US’s high position in the ranking.
Singapore rounds out the top five, maintaining its position in the fleet rankings for another year. It ranks fourth in terms of the number of ships, with a total of 3,359 this year. Their value increased by over $34 billion compared to the previous year. The value of Singapore’s fleet is estimated at $118 billion.
Switzerland, a maritime nation
Switzerland ranks sixth in terms of fleet value, having risen from ninth place in 2025. The total value of the Swiss fleet is USD 83 billion. Its value increased by approximately 22% over the year compared to 2025, thanks to MSC’s continuous modernization and the introduction of new vessels. The fleet’s value has been particularly boosted by the addition of large new container ships. MSC’s fleet will continue to grow, as the container ships ordered in 2025 are ULCVs or New Panamax. The ships are being built in Chinese shipyards and are scheduled for launch between 2027 and 2030.
Hong Kong entered the top ten this year. With a fleet valued at USD 78 billion, it ranks seventh. The container fleet accounts for the largest share, with a vessel value of USD 32.5 billion. Bulk carriers (USD 15.3 billion) and tankers (USD 13.7 billion) follow. Hong Kong is also active in LNG shipping, with a fleet valued at $6.9 billion, ranking it fifth globally.
South Korea dropped two spots in 2026 to eighth place with a fleet valued at $69 billion. South Korea ranks fourth in LNG carrier value ($13.1 billion). South Korea has a strong presence in the car carrier market, with a fleet valued at $6 billion. Following the recent acquisition of approximately 35 VLCCs by South Korea’s Sinokor, Veson Nautical forecasts that the total value of South Korea’s fleet will increase by approximately $2.8 billion.
Germany rose one spot in 2026. German operators are investing primarily in container shipping. The German fleet ranks second in terms of vessel count (586 container ships). Their value is estimated at $29 billion, putting the German container fleet in sixth place by value.
Taiwan secured a strong market position in 2025, thanks to Evergreen’s investment activity. The operator has ordered 25 new container ships. The new Panamax and ULCV vessels will be built in South Korea and China. They will be introduced to liner services between 2027 and 2029.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that in 2026, the Chinese Navy is perceived as a maritime power. Today, it has over 840 ships of various classes. Next in line are Russia with over 740 ships, and the United States with 465 ships.
Produkcja statków handlowych wiodących krajów. Źródło: Andaman Partners. Raport z kwietnia 2026 r.