With the opportunities provided by the revival of the global shipbuilding industry, Guangzhou has become one of China's three ship building & export bases.

According to Guangzhou Customs, in 2006 Guangzhou exported 1519 ships, with a total value of USD 690 million, to 22 countries and regions in the world; the ship quantity and export value increased 19.1% and 45.5%, respectively from the previous year. The ship export value of Guangzhou accounts for 8.7 percent of China's exports, and 91.5 percent  of Guangdong province's exports. The Pearl River delta, the Yangtze River Delta and the Circum-Bohai-Sea region, have become the three ship exporting areas of China.

In 2006, Guangzhou exported 14 oil tankers below 100,000-ton dead weight and 10 container ships with an average capacity below 6000 TEUs. The export value of the two types of ships increased 83.2% percent and 79.4%, respectively, and the average ship price has increased by 17.8% and 25.6%, respectively, showing the growth of the added value of the ships made by Guangzhou and also the grade of the exported ships.

The export value of the Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd. and the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co., increased 54.5% and 37.5%, respectively; the two major ship manufacturers of Guangdong province and China are ranked among the top 10 enterprises of China in ship export value.

Since 2003, the global shipping market has been booming. Shipping prices have increased dramatically and the shipbuilders are enjoying a good market because of the rising demand for new ships.

Guangzhou is the geographical center between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia and the Nansha Development Area is the geographical center of the Pearl River delta. Guangzhou not only has the deepwater coast that is necessary for shipbuilding, but also owns first class ports. The shipbuilding industry is a key part of the development strategies of Guangdong province and Guangzhou city.

Under this situation, the manufacturing industry of Guangzhou is developing rapidly; the production and orders for new ships have both reached a record high. For example, great progress has been made in the Nansha Longxue Shipbuilding Base project, which is to become the first-level modern shipbuilding base of southern China.

Editor: Yan