An aerial view of the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard. [Photo/www.wifizs.cn]

The shipbuilding firms in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, maintained a top-three national ranking in ship repair output for the first half of the year, according to the latest report released at the 93rd meeting of China Shiprepair Periodical Coordinating Conference, held in Zhoushan on July 11.

A total of 38 leading domestic ship repair enterprises generated over 23 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) in output from January to June, marking a year-on-year growth of more than 13 percent. While the number of completed vessels — over 3,700 — remained steady, the average value per repair project increased, indicating higher profitability across the industry. Notably, more than 80 percent of repairs among top-tier firms involved foreign ships, contributing to steady growth in foreign exchange earnings.

Seven shipyards each surpassed 1 billion yuan in repair output, with Zhoushan firms accounting for four of these. Among these firms, Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard alone handled nearly 10 percent of the nation's total ship repairs during the period.

Of the enterprises completing over 100 vessel repairs, 15 were based in China, with three Zhoushan companies — Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard, Zhoushan Huafeng Shipyard, and Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Repair — each exceeding 200 completed repairs.

From January to May, the city's industrial added value grew by 23.9 percent, while new and existing orders surged by 56 and 63 percent, respectively, with the total contract value exceeding $10 billion.