# China Widens Naval Shipbuilding Lead

Euronaval’s 2026 shipbuilding report says China built 636,208 tons of combat ships in 2024–25, compared with 270,509 tons for the United States—more than twice the U.S. total. The figures highlight a substantial difference in recent naval production capacity, making shipyard throughput, supply-chain resilience, and advanced naval capabilities relevant considerations for defense procurement planning and industry strategy. The four-day Euronaval exhibition opens in Paris on November 3, 2026, with exhibitor numbers expected to exceed 2024 by more than 40%. The report signals a market trend, not a specific contract solicitation or award.

- Contractors can assess whether their production capacity and supply chains support naval programs emphasizing throughput and resilience; the report does not identify specific requirements or procurements.
- Defense procurement teams can use the reported production gap as context when evaluating industrial capacity and potential supplier constraints.
- Euronaval opens November 3, 2026 (13 days from October 21); companies focused on naval capabilities may find the exhibition relevant for industry engagement.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)
- United States Navy (U.S. Navy)

### Key Quotes
> We are seeing a fairly substantial expansion of naval forces, and consequently of shipbuilding. We’re seeing an increase in power capabilities, particularly nuclear-powered attack submarines for example.
> — Philippe Missoffe, General Director of Gican

### Sources
- [China built more than twice naval tonnage of US in 2024-25: Euronaval](https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/10/20/china-built-more-than-twice-naval-tonnage-of-us-in-2024-25-euronaval) - Defense News