Workers are busy building ships. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

The shipbuilding sector in Taizhou, in East China's Zhejiang province, reported a strong performance in the first half of 2025, with total ship exports reaching 1.89 billion yuan ($264.11 million), up 47.5 percent from the previous year, according to Taizhou Customs on July 23.

An increasing number of international shipowners are placing orders with local shipyards, fueling expansion across the industry.

At the Haidong Shipyard in Jiaojiang district, all 11 shipways are occupied. The yard delivered four vessels to international clients in the first six months of the year, including three multipurpose tugboats and one cargo ship. 

"Our client base is very stable. Some of them have been cooperating with us for nearly 30 years, and we offer a range of ship types," said Chen Jingyu, deputy director of the company. A notable project is an 80,000-metric-ton oil tanker for a Greek client — Taizhou's largest tanker under construction.

To support exports, Taizhou Customs has provided enterprise-specific assistance and policy guidance, while utilizing bonded trade policies to alleviate financial pressure.

Digitalized supervision systems now enable customs to monitor production progress in real time, reduce costs, and improve management standards — providing a strong boost to the region's high-end manufacturing exports.