The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Asia
Merchant marine China, in 36 editions.
The entry for China published Merchant marine in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 29 editions. Each is shown as published. Merchant marine in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 29
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Merchant marine” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Same as 2024- 1,373 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,303,685 GRT/ 20,092,833 DWT;
- includes 25 passenger, 41 short-sea passenger, 17 passenger-cargo, 7 cargo/training, 766 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 65 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 multifunction barge carriers, 173 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 237 bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 1 liquefied gas;
- note--China beneficially owns an additional 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,380,415 DWT that operate under the registry of Panama, UK, Hong Kong, Liberia, and Malta
1,373 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,303,685 GRT/ 20,092,833 DWT; includes 25 passenger, 41 short-sea passenger, 17 passenger-cargo, 7 cargo/training, 766 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 65 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 multifunction barge carriers, 173 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 237 bulk, 2 vehicle carrier, 1 liquefied gas; note--China beneficially owns an additional 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,380,415 DWT that operate under the registry of Panama, UK, Hong Kong, Liberia, and Malta
- 1,421 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,010,317 GRT/21,223,170 DWT;
- includes 24 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 19 passenger-cargo, 7 cargo/training, 776 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 70 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 multifunction barge carrier, 181 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 250 bulk, 2 liquefied gas, 2 vehicle carrier, 9 combination bulk;
- note--China beneficially owns an additional 183 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,921,000 DWT that operate under Maltese and Liberian registry
1,373 1,421 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,303,685 GRT/ 20,092,833 14,010,317 GRT/21,223,170 DWT; includes 25 24 passenger, 41 42 short-sea passenger, 17 19 passenger-cargo, 7 cargo/training, 766 776 cargo, 10 11 refrigerated cargo, 65 70 container, 17 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 2 multifunction barge carriers, 173 carrier, 181 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 9 chemical tanker, 237 250 bulk, 2 liquefied gas, 2 vehicle carrier, 1 liquefied gas; 9 combination bulk; note--China beneficially owns an additional 175 183 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,380,415 5,921,000 DWT that operate under the registry of Panama, UK, Hong Kong, Liberia, Maltese and Malta Liberian registry
- 1,454 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,887,312 GRT/20,916,127 DWT;
- includes 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 18 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo/training, 801 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 77 container, 19 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 177 petroleum tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 254 bulk, 3 liquefied gas, 1 vehicle carrier, 9 combination bulk, 1 barge carrier;
- note - China beneficially owns an additional 194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 7,077,089 DWT that operate under Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cyprus, and Saint Vincent registry
1,421 1,454 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,010,317 GRT/21,223,170 13,887,312 GRT/20,916,127 DWT;
includes 24 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 19 18 passenger-cargo, 7 6
cargo/training, 776 801 cargo, 11 10 refrigerated cargo, 70 77 container, 17 19
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 multifunction barge 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 181 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) 177 petroleum tanker, 9
10 chemical tanker, 250 254 bulk, 2 3 liquefied gas, 2 1 vehicle carrier, 9
combination bulk; note--China bulk, 1 barge carrier; note - China beneficially owns an
additional 183 194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 5,921,000 7,077,089
DWT that operate under Maltese Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian,
Vanuatu, Cyprus, and Liberian Saint Vincent registry
- 1,478 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,029,320 GRT/21,120,522 DWT;
- includes 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 18 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo/training, 811 cargo, 11 refrigerated cargo, 81 container, 18 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 177 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 263 bulk, 3 liquefied gas, 1 vehicle carrier, 9 combination bulk, 1 barge carrier;
- note - China beneficially owns an additional 227 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 6,187,117 DWT that operate under Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry
1,454 1,478 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,887,312 GRT/20,916,127 14,029,320 GRT/21,120,522 DWT;
includes 25 passenger, 42 short-sea passenger, 18 passenger-cargo, 6
cargo/training, 801 811 cargo, 10 11 refrigerated cargo, 77 81 container, 19 18
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 multifunction/barge carrier, 177 petroleum oil tanker, 1110 chemical tanker, 254 263 bulk, 3 liquefied gas, 1 vehicle carrier, 9
bulk, 1 barge carrier; note - China beneficially owns an194 227
ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 7,077,0896,187,117 DWT that operate
under Panamanian, British, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian,Cyprus, and Cypriot,
Saint Vincent Vincent, Bahamian, and Romanian registry
1,541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,884,756 GRT/22,475,985 DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 285, cargo 819, chemical tanker 13, combination bulk 9, container 85, liquefied gas 4, multifunction/barge carrier 1, oil tanker 192, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 25, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 43, vehicle carrier 2
Rewritten: too little of the 1993 text remains to mark the changes.
1,541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,884,756 GRT/22,475,985
DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 285, cargo 819, chemical tanker 13,
combination bulk 9, container 85, liquefied gas 4, multifunction/barge
carrier 1, oil tanker 192, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 25,
refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger
43, vehicle carrier 2
- total:
- 1,628 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,013,532 GRT/24,027,766 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 3, bulk 298, cargo 849, chemical tanker 14, combination bulk 10, container 98, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 212, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 25, refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 44, vehicle carrier 1
note: China beneficially owns an additional 250 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 8,831,462 DWT that operate under Panamanian, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamian, and Singaporean registry
1,541 total: 1,628 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,884,756 GRT/22,475,985 16,013,532DWT, GRT/24,027,766 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, 3, bulk 285, 298, cargo 819, 849, chemical tanker 13,
14, combination bulk 9, 10, container 85, 98, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction/barge
multifunction large load carrier 1, oil tanker 192, 212, passenger 24,
passenger-cargo 25,17, 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, 24,
short-sea passenger
43,2 1
note: China beneficially owns an additional 250 ships (1,000 GRT or
over) totaling approximately 8,831,462 DWT that operate under
Panamanian, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamian, and Singaporean registry
- total:
- 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260 GRT/25,026,090 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 316, cargo 876, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 11, container 103, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 227, passenger 24, passenger-cargo 28, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 45
note: China owns an additional 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,044,039 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 est.)
total: 1,628 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,013,532 16,663,260GRT/24,027,766 GRT/25,026,090 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 3, 2, bulk 298, 316, cargo 849, 876, chemical tanker14, 15, combination bulk 10, 11, container 98, 103, liquefied gas tanker 4,
multifunction large load large-load carrier 1, 3, oil tanker 212, 227, passenger 24,
passenger-cargo 25, 28, refrigerated cargo 21, 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24,
24, short-sea passenger 44, vehicle carrier 1 45
note: China beneficially owns an additional 250 267 ships (1,000 GRT or
totaling approximately 8,831,462 9,044,039 DWT that operate operating under the registries of Panama,Panamanian, Hong Kong, Maltese, Liberian, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cypriot, Cyprus, Saint
Grenadines, Bahamian, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singaporean registry Singapore (1995 est.)
- total:
- 1,736 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,749,069 GRT/25,196,607 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 325, cargo 883, chemical tanker 16, combination bulk 11, container 109, liquefied gas tanker 9, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 232, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 47, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off cargo 22, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 1
note: China owns an additional 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,754,413 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1996 est.)
total: 1,700 1,736 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260 16,749,069GRT/25,026,090 GRT/25,196,607 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 316, 325, cargo 876, 883, chemical tanker15, 16, combination bulk 11, container 103, 109, liquefied gas tanker 4, 9,
multifunction large-load carrier 3, 6, oil tanker 227, 232, passenger 24, 6,
passenger-cargo 28, 47, refrigerated cargo 22, 24, roll-on/roll-off cargo 22,24, short-sea passenger 45 43, specialized tanker 1
note: China owns an additional 267 270 ships (1,000 GRT or over)9,044,039
8,754,413 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,
Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and theThe Bahamas,
Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 (1996 est.)
- total:
- 1,708 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,139,185 GRT/24,154,260 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 313, cargo 858, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 10, container 118, liquefied gas tanker 13, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil tanker 231, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 45, refrigerated cargo 25, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 43
note: China owns an additional 307 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,648,133 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, Hong Kong, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Panama, Singapore, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1997 est.)
total: 1,736 1,708 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,749,069 16,139,185GRT/25,196,607 GRT/24,154,260 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 325, 313, cargo 883, 858, chemical tanker16, 15, combination bulk 11, 10, container 109, 118, liquefied gas tanker 9, 13,
multifunction large-load carrier 6, 5, oil tanker 232, 231, passenger 6,
passenger-cargo 47, 45, refrigerated cargo 24, 25, roll-on/roll-off cargo 22, 24,
short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 1 43
note: China owns an additional 270 307 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling8,754,413 11,648,133 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Hong Kong,Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Malta, Marshall Islands, Panama, Singapore, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines,
Marshall Islands,Singapore (1996 Vanuatu (1997 est.)
- total:
- 1,759 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,828,349 GRT/24,801,291 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 330, cargo 855, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 121, liquefied gas tanker 20, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 245, passenger 8, passenger-cargo 47, refrigerated cargo 25, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 43, vehicle carrier 1 (1998 est.)
total: 1,708 1,759 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,139,185 16,828,349GRT/24,154,260 GRT/24,801,291 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 313, 330, cargo 858, 855, chemical tanker15, 21, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 118, 121,
liquefied gas tanker 13,20, multifunction large-load carrier 5, 6, oil
tanker 231, 245, passenger 6,8, passenger-cargo 45, 47, refrigerated cargo 25,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 24,43 43, vehicle carrier 1
note: China owns an additional 307 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
11,648,133 DWT operating under the registries of Cyprus, Hong Kong,
Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Panama, Singapore, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1997 (1998 est.)
- total:
- 1,746 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,637,023 GRT/24,552,567 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 325, cargo 840, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 125, liquified gas 20, multi-functional large load carrier 5, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 46, petroleum tanker 251, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off 21, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 est.)
total: 1,759 1,746 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,828,349 16,637,023 GRT/24,552,567 DWT
GRT/24,801,291
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 330, 325, cargo 855, 840, chemical tanker10, 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 121, 125, liquified gas
liquefiedtanker 20, multifunction large-load multi-functional large load carrier 6, oil 5, passenger 8,
tanker 245,passenger-cargo 47, passenger/cargo 46, petroleum tanker 251, refrigerated cargo 25, 24, roll-on/roll-off 21, short-sea passenger 43, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
roll-on/roll-off cargo
(1998
- total:
- 1,745 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,533,521 GRT/24,746,859 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 324, cargo 825, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 132, liquefied gas 24, multi-functional large-load carrier 5, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 45, petroleum tanker 258, refrigerated cargo 22, roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 41, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 (2000 est.)
total: 1,746 1,745 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,637,023 GRT/24,552,567 16,533,521 GRT/24,746,859 DWT325, 324, cargo 840, 825, chemical tanker 21, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 125, liquified 132, liquefied gas 20, 24, multi-functional large load large-load carrier 5, passenger 8, 7, passenger/cargo 46, 45, petroleum tanker 251, 258, refrigerated cargo 24, roll-on/roll-off 21, 22, roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 43, 41, specialized tanker 2, 3, vehicle carrier 1 (1999 (2000 est.)
- total:
- 1,764 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,915,047 GRT/25,366,296 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 328, cargo 822, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 134, liquefied gas 26, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 45, petroleum tanker 263, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Germany 1, Hong Kong 16, Japan 2, Panama 2, South Korea 1, Spain 1, Taiwan 9, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
total: 1,745 1,764 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,533,521 GRT/24,746,859 16,915,047 GRT/25,366,296 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 324, 328, cargo 825, 822, chemical tanker 21, 25, combination bulk 11, 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 132, 134, liquefied gas 24, 26, multi-functional large-load carrier 5, 6, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 45, petroleum tanker 258, 263, refrigerated cargo 22, 26, roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 41, 42, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1 (2000
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Germany 1, Hong Kong 16, Japan 2, Panama 2, South Korea 1, Spain 1, Taiwan 9, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
- total:
- 1,817 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,047,962 GRT/27,035,740 DWT
- ships by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 348, cargo 824, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 150, liquefied gas 28, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 21, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 8, vehicle carrier 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Germany 1, Hong Kong 16, Japan 2, Panama 2, South Korea 1, Spain 1, Taiwan 9, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
total: 1,764 1,817 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,915,047 GRT/25,366,296 18,047,962 GRT/27,035,740 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 328, 348, cargo 822, 824, chemical tanker 25, 28, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, 2, container 134, 150, liquefied gas 26, 28, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, passenger 7, 6, passenger/cargo 45, 47, petroleum tanker 263, 267, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 23, 21, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 3, 8, vehicle carrier 1 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Germany 1, Hong Kong 16, Japan 2, Panama 2, South Korea 1, Spain 1, Taiwan 9, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002 est.)
- total:
- 1,850 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWT
- by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk 355, cargo 822, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 165, liquefied gas 28, multi-functional large load carrier 8, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 46, petroleum tanker 272, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 25, short-sea/passenger 39, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 4
- foreign-owned:
- Cambodia 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Japan 1, South Korea 2, Liberia 1, Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1
- registered in other countries:
- 790 (2004 est.)
total: 1,817 1,850 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,047,962 GRT/27,035,740 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWTships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 348, 355, cargo 824, 822, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 150, 165, liquefied gas 28, multi-functional large-load large load carrier 6, 8, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 47, 46, petroleum tanker 267, 272, rail car carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 26, 27, roll on/roll off 21, short-sea passenger 42, 25, short-sea/passenger 39, specialized tanker 8, 10, vehicle carrier 2 4note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Germany foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 16, 12, Japan 2, Panama 2, 1, South Korea 2, Liberia 1, Spain Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Taiwan 9, 2, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1 (2002
registered in other countries: 790 (2004 est.)
- total:
- 1,649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWT
- by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 362, cargo 696, chemical tanker 38, combination ore/oil 1, container 135, liquefied gas 30, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 246, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10
- foreign-owned:
- 9 (Hong Kong 4, Japan 2, South Korea 2, United States 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 872 (2005)
total: 1,850 1,649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 355, carrier 362, cargo 822, 696, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 10, 38, combination ore/oil 2, 1, container 165, 135, liquefied gas 28, multi-functional large load carrier 8, 30, passenger 6, 7, passenger/cargo 46, 81, petroleum tanker 272, rail car carrier 1, 246, refrigerated cargo 27, 30, roll on/roll off 25, short-sea/passenger 39, specialized tanker 10, 11, vehicle carrier 4 10
foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Greece 2, Hong 9 (Hong Kong 12, 4, Japan 1, 2, South Korea 2, Liberia 1, Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1 United States 1)
registered in other countries: 790 (2004 est.) 872 (2005)
- total:
- 1,723 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 DWT
- by type:
- barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 387, cargo 695, chemical tanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 152, liquefied gas 31, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 261, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 14
- foreign-owned:
- 13 (Hong Kong 7, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Norway 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,191 (Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1, Belize 103, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, Cyprus 11, Georgia 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 274, India 2, North Korea 1, Liberia 35, Malaysia 1, Malta 14, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 103, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 23, unknown 33) (2006)
total: 1,649 1,723 ships (1,000 (1000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 362, 387, cargo 696, 695, chemical tanker 38, 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 135, 152, liquefied gas 30, 31, passenger 7, 8, passenger/cargo 81, 83, petroleum tanker 246, 261, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 11, 8, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 10 14
foreign-owned: 9 13 (Hong Kong 4, 7, Japan 2, 3, South Korea 2, United States Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 872 (2005) 1,191 (Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1, Belize 103, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, Cyprus 11, Georgia 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 274, India 2, North Korea 1, Liberia 35, Malaysia 1, Malta 14, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 103, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 23, unknown 33) (2006)
- total:
- 1,775 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,219,786 GRT/33,819,636 DWT
- by type:
- barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 415, cargo 689, carrier 3, chemical tanker 62, combination ore/oil 2, container 157, liquefied gas 35, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 84, petroleum tanker 250, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 8, vehicle carrier 17
- foreign-owned:
- 12 (Ecuador 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 6, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,366 (Bahamas 9, Bangladesh 1, Belize 107, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 166, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 4, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 309, India 1, Indonesia 2, Liberia 32, Malaysia 1, Malta 13, Marshall Islands 3, Mongolia 3, Norway 47, Panama 473, Philippines 2, Sierra Leone 8, Singapore 19, St Vincent and The Grenadines 106, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Tuvalu 25, unknown 33) (2007)
total: 1,723 1,775 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 22,219,786 GRT/33,819,636 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, 3, bulk carrier 387, 415, cargo 695, 689, carrier 3, chemical tanker 45, 62, combination ore/oil 1, 2, container 152, 157, liquefied gas 31, 35, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, 84, petroleum tanker 261, 250, refrigerated cargo 30, 33, roll on/roll off 8, 9, specialized tanker 6, 8, vehicle carrier 14 17
foreign-owned: 13 (Hong 12 (Ecuador 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 7, 6, Japan 3, 2, South Korea 2, 1, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 1,191 1,366 (Bahamas 3, 9, Bangladesh 1, Belize 103, 107, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, 166, Cyprus 11, 10, France 5, Georgia 4, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 274, 309, India 2, North Korea 1, Indonesia 2, Liberia 35, 32, Malaysia 1, Malta 14, 13, Marshall Islands 3, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Norway 47, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 103, 473, Philippines 2, Sierra Leone 2, 8, Singapore 23, 19, St Vincent and The Grenadines 106, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Tuvalu 23, 25, unknown 33) (2006) (2007)
- total:
- 1,826
- by type:
- barge carrier 4, bulk carrier 451, cargo 689, carrier 2, chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, container 162, liquefied gas 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 17
- foreign-owned:
- 20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,441 (Bahamas 10, Bangladesh 1, Belize 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 193, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 324, India 1, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 12, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 36, Panama 532, Philippines 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 16, unknown 39) (2008)
total: 1,775 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,219,786 GRT/33,819,636 DWT 1,826
by type: barge carrier 3, 4, bulk carrier 415, 451, cargo 689, carrier 3, 2, chemical tanker 62, 69, combination ore/oil 2, 1, container 157, 162, liquefied gas 35, 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 84, 83, petroleum tanker 250, 244, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 9, 10, specialized tanker 8, 9, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned: 12 20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 1, 2, Hong Kong 6, 12, Indonesia 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 1,366 1,441 (Bahamas 9, 10, Bangladesh 1, Belize 107, 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 166, 193, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 4, 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 309, 324, India 1, Indonesia 2, Liberia 32, Malaysia Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 13, 12, Marshall Islands 3, 7, Mongolia 3, 1, Norway 47, 36, Panama 473, 532, Philippines 2, Sierra Leone 8, Singapore 19, St 4, Saint Vincent and The the Grenadines 106, 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14, Thailand 1, Turkey 1, Tuvalu 25, 16, unknown 33) (2007) 39) (2008)
- total:
- 1,826
- country comparison to the world:
- 3
- by type:
- barge carrier 4, bulk carrier 451, cargo 689, carrier 2, chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, container 162, liquefied gas 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 17
- foreign-owned:
- 20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,441 (Bahamas 10, Bangladesh 1, Belize 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 193, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 324, India 1, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 12, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 36, Panama 532, Philippines 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 16, unknown 39) (2008)
total:
1,826
country comparison to the world:
3
by type:
barge carrier 4, bulk carrier 451, cargo 689, carrier 2, chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, container 162, liquefied gas 44, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 17
foreign-owned:
20 (Ecuador 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1)
registered in other countries:
1,441 (Bahamas 10, Bangladesh 1, Belize 71, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 193, Cyprus 10, France 5, Georgia 10, Germany 2, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 324, India 1, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Liberia 11, Malta 12, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 36, Panama 532, Philippines 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 94, Sierra Leone 15, Singapore 14, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 16, unknown 39) (2008)
The same text in 2010 and 2011.
- total:
- 2,010
- country comparison to the world:
- 3
- by type:
- barge carrier 6, bulk carrier 571, cargo 639, carrier 5, chemical tanker 98, container 204, liquefied gas 55, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 271, refrigerated cargo 35, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 24
- foreign-owned:
- 18 (Germany 1, Hong Kong 15, Japan 2)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,623 (Bahamas 4, Bangladesh 1, Belize 64, Bermuda 13, Cambodia 203, Comoros 1, Cyprus 6, France 5, Georgia 11, Germany 2, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 432, India 1, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 28, Liberia 10, Malta 11, Marshall Islands 16, North Korea 1, Norway 25, Panama 574, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 82, Sierra Leone 12, Singapore 26, South Korea 9, Thailand 1, Togo 2, Tuvalu 9, UK 7, unknown 59) (2010)
total:1,826 2,010
country comparison to the world:
3
by type:
barge carrier 4, 6, bulk carrier 451, 571, cargo 689, 639, carrier 2, 5, chemical tanker 69, combination ore/oil 1, 98, container 162, 204, liquefied gas 44, 55, passenger 8, 9, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 244, 271, refrigerated cargo 33, 35, roll on/roll off 10, 9, specialized tanker 9, 1, vehicle carrier 17 24
foreign-owned:20 (Ecuador 18 (Germany 1, Greece 2, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 1, 15, Japan 2, South Korea 1, Norway 1) 2)
registered in other countries:1,441 1,623 (Bahamas 10, 4, Bangladesh 1, Belize 71, 64, Bermuda 10, Bolivia 1, 13, Cambodia 193, 203, Comoros 1, Cyprus 10, 6, France 5, Georgia 10, 11, Germany 2, Honduras 3, 2, Hong Kong 324, 432, India 1, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 15, South Korea 1, Kiribati 28, Liberia 11, 10, Malta 12, 11, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 16, North Korea 1, Norway 36, 25, Panama 532, 574, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 94, 82, Sierra Leone 15, 12, Singapore 14, 26, South Korea 9, Thailand 1, Togo 2, Tuvalu 16, 9, UK 7, unknown 39) (2008) 59) (2010)
The same text in 3 editions, 2012 to 2014.
- total:
- 2,030
- country comparison to the world:
- 3
- by type:
- barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 621, cargo 566, carrier 10, chemical tanker 140, container 206, liquefied gas 60, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 264, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23
- foreign-owned:
- 22 (Hong Kong 18, Indonesia 2, Japan 2)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,559 (Bangladesh 1, Belize 61, Cambodia 177, Comoros 1, Cyprus 6, Georgia 10, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 500, India 1, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 26, Liberia 4, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 14, North Korea 3, Panama 534, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 65, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Sierra Leone 19, Singapore 29, South Korea 6, Thailand 1, Togo 1, Tuvalu 4, UK 7, Vanuatu 1, unknown 73) (2010)
total:2,010 2,030
country comparison to the world:
3
by type:
barge carrier 6, 7, bulk carrier 571, 621, cargo 639, 566, carrier 5, 10, chemical tanker 98, 140, container 204, 206, liquefied gas 55, 60, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 83, 81, petroleum tanker 271, 264, refrigerated cargo 35, 33, roll on/roll off 9, 8, specialized tanker 1, 2, vehicle carrier 24 23
foreign-owned:18 (Germany 1, Hong 22 (Hong Kong 15, 18, Indonesia 2, Japan 2)
registered in other countries:1,623 (Bahamas 4, Bangladesh 1,559 (Bangladesh 1, Belize 64, Bermuda 13, 61, Cambodia 203, 177, Comoros 1, Cyprus 6, France 5, Georgia 11, Germany 2, 10, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 432, 500, India 1, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 28, 26, Liberia 10, 4, Malta 11, 6, Marshall Islands 16, 14, North Korea 1, Norway 25, 3, Panama 574, 534, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 82, 65, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Sierra Leone 12, 19, Singapore 26, 29, South Korea 9, 6, Thailand 1, Togo 2, 1, Tuvalu 9, 4, UK 7, Vanuatu 1, unknown 59) 73) (2010)
The same text in 2015 and 2016.
- total:
- 2,030
- by type:
- barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 621, cargo 566, carrier 10, chemical tanker 140, container 206, liquefied gas 60, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 264, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23
- foreign-owned:
- 22 (Hong Kong 18, Indonesia 2, Japan 2)
- registered in other countries:
- 1,559 (Bangladesh 1, Belize 61, Cambodia 177, Comoros 1, Cyprus 6, Georgia 10, Honduras 2, Hong Kong 500, India 1, Indonesia 1, Kiribati 26, Liberia 4, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 14, North Korea 3, Panama 534, Philippines 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 65, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Sierra Leone 19, Singapore 29, South Korea 6, Thailand 1, Togo 1, Tuvalu 4, UK 7, Vanuatu 1, unknown 73) (2010)
- country comparison to the world:
- 3
total:country comparison to the world:by type:
3
foreign-owned:
registered in other countries:
country comparison to the world: 3
- total:
- 4,287
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1,069, container ship 198, general cargo 697, oil tanker 480, other 1,843, (2017)
Rewritten: too little of the 2016 text remains to mark the changes.
total: 4,287
by type: bulk carrier 1,069, container ship 198, general cargo 697, oil tanker 480, other 1,843, (2017)
- total:
- 4,287 (2017)
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1069, container ship 198, general cargo 697, oil tanker 480, other 1843 (2017)
total: 4,287 (2017)
by type: bulk carrier 1,069, 1069, container ship 198, general cargo 697, oil tanker 480, other 1,843, 1843 (2017)
- total:
- 4,610
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1114, container ship 242, general cargo 741, oil tanker 503, other 2010 (2018)
total: 4,287 (2017) 4,610
by type: bulk carrier 1069, 1114, container ship 198, 242, general cargo 697, 741, oil tanker 480, 503, other 1843 (2017) 2010 (2018)
- total:
- 5,594
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1,231, container ship 262, general cargo 846, oil tanker 777, other 2,478 (2019)
total: 4,610 5,594
by type: bulk carrier 1114, 1,231, container ship 242, 262, general cargo 741, 846, oil tanker 503, 777, other 2010 (2018) 2,478 (2019)
The same text in 2021 and 2022.
- total:
- 6,662
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1,558, container ship 341, general cargo 957, oil tanker 1,061, other 2,745 (2021)
total: 5,594 6,662
by type: bulk carrier 1,231, 1,558, container ship 262, 341, general cargo 846, 957, oil tanker 777, 1,061, other 2,478 (2019) 2,745 (2021)
- total:
- 7,362 (2022)
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1,684, container ship 355, general cargo 1,164, oil tanker 1,133, other 3,026
total: 6,662 7,362 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 1,558, 1,684, container ship 341, 355, general cargo 957, 1,164, oil tanker 1,061, 1,133, other 2,745 (2021) 3,026
The same text in 2024 and 2025.
- total:
- 8,314 (2023)
- by type:
- bulk carrier 1,831, container ship 419, general cargo 1,392, oil tanker 1,196, other 3,476
total: 7,362 (2022) 8,314 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 1,684, 1,831, container ship 355, 419, general cargo 1,164, 1,392, oil tanker 1,133, 1,196, other 3,026 3,476
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “China: Merchant marine.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/china/merchant-marine.