China plus Russia plus Iran plus North Korea: builds 70% of the world's warships

Quick Overview

China's shipbuilding industry, supported by a bloc including Russia, Iran, and North Korea, controls 60-70% of global warship building, mostly for nations sanctioned by the West, dramatically outpacing the US and other competitors in both commercial and military vessel production, as evidenced by China's 2024 military shipbuilding rate of 19-21 units per year far exceeding the combined output of the US, South Korea, and Japan.

Key Points: China holds about 48-52% of global warship production over the last six years, and its allied bloc (including Russia, Iran, and North Korea) controls 60-70% of worldwide warship building. China is projected to build 115 to 125 military warships annually between 2020 and 2025, averaging 19 to 21 units per year, surpassing the combined production of the US, Japan, and South Korea (which added only about 48 to 51 ships in the same period). The Chinese Navy fleet totals approximately 395 combat ships, eclipsing the US fleet of 290, South Korea's 140, and Japan's 103. In commercial shipbuilding, China produced over 300 shipyards churning out more than half of the world's commercial vessels each year, including supertankers for oil companies and giant cargo ships. The US shipbuilding industry built only five large ocean-going merchant vessels in 2024, totaling 76,000 gross tons, compared to one Chinese shipbuilder (CSSC) delivering over 250 ships, adding up to 14 million GT. The US Navy currently has 68 submarines, while China commissioned 14-18 submarines in the last six years, raising its fleet to 68 units, putting China on pace to match or exceed the US submarine fleet quantity within 10-12 years. Western nations, including the US, South Korea, and Japan, cannot match China's production speed for military systems, as evidenced by the Pentagon's inability to mass-produce basic artillery shells quickly.

Context: The video segment, presented by Kevin Walmsley from Kunming, China, focuses on the exponential growth and dominance of China's shipbuilding industry, both commercially and militarily, contrasting it with the declining output of the US and its allies. It draws on data suggesting China's dual-use capacity allows it to rapidly expand its navy while simultaneously supplying global trade, causing concern among Western policymakers regarding industrial overcapacity and strategic vulnerability.