China’s Marine Economy Hits 11 Trillion Yuan, Index Shows
China’s gross ocean product (GOP) reached 11 trillion yuan (approximately US$1.52 trillion) in 2025, growing 5.5% year-on-year, according to the newly released 2026 China Marine Economic Development Index. The index, published on June 10 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and compiled by the National Marine Data and Information Service, registered a reading of 128.8 for 2025 — up 2.2% from the previous year — signaling that the country’s marine economy is developing toward what officials describe as “new and high-quality” directions.
A Growing Pillar of the National Economy
The 11 trillion yuan GOP represents a historic milestone, accounting for roughly 8.1% of China’s total GDP of approximately 135 trillion yuan in 2025. The marine sector’s 5.5% growth rate outpaced the nation’s overall GDP expansion of about 5%, underscoring its increasing importance as a driver of economic development.
According to People’s Daily, the Marine Economic Development Index is a comprehensive quantitative assessment covering five major domains: development scale and efficiency, structure optimization and upgrading, resource conservation and utilization, foreign economy and trade, and livelihood security and improvement. The index uses 2015 as its base year, with a base value of 100.
Sub-Indices Paint a Detailed Picture
The index’s sub-components reveal nuanced progress across different dimensions of the marine economy. The Structure Optimization and Upgrading Index led at 133.8, up 2.2% year-on-year, reflecting significant advances in industrial composition. The Livelihood Security and Improvement Index reached 132.0, rising 3.7% — the fastest growth among all sub-indices — driven by improved coastal water quality and expanding marine tourism.
The Development Scale and Efficiency Index stood at 128.1, up 1.7%, while the Resource Conservation and Utilization Index reached 125.9, up 1.9%. The Foreign Economy and Trade Index came in at 123.4, up 1.7%, as reported by China Economic Net.
Emerging Industries Lead Growth
Marine emerging industries proved to be a standout performer, with value-added output growing 7.3% year-on-year — significantly outpacing the overall GOP growth rate. The number of new marine economic activity units rose 6.2%, signaling robust entrepreneurial activity in the sector.
Technological breakthroughs highlighted in the report include the successful grid connection of the world’s largest 26 MW offshore wind turbine, independently developed by Chinese engineers, and a breakthrough in direct electrolysis of natural seawater for hydrogen production and magnesium extraction. The China News Service also noted the release of “Kanhai” (瞰海) AI large models for marine applications.
Energy and Trade
Offshore energy production played an increasingly vital role in China’s energy security. Marine crude oil production grew 3.4% year-on-year, while marine natural gas output surged 17.0%. Offshore wind power generation increased 3.3%, and seawater desalination daily capacity exceeded 3 million tons.
In trade, maritime shipping handled 61.5% of China’s total imports and exports by value, with sea freight volumes rising 1.7% year-on-year. Coastal port foreign cargo throughput grew 4.7%, demonstrating the resilience of China’s maritime trade amid global economic headwinds.
Environmental and Social Progress
The index also captured meaningful environmental improvements. Coastal water quality classified as Class I or II — the highest grades — reached 84.9%, up 1.2 percentage points from the previous year. Per capita seafood availability increased by 1.0 kg, and marine tourism emerged as a bright spot, with island tours, cruise travel, and marine sports becoming new growth hotspots.
In 2025, China approved 372,000 hectares of sea and island area for new use, involving investment of over 921.8 billion yuan, supporting projects in fisheries, oil and gas, and wind power.
Regional Contributions
China’s coastal provinces continue to drive the marine economy. Guangdong Province posted a marine GOP of 2.04 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for 18.6% of the national total and ranking first nationally for the 31st consecutive year. Jiangsu Province’s marine GOP exceeded 1.08 trillion yuan, growing 6.7% year-on-year.
Looking Ahead
The strong performance of the Marine Economic Development Index validates China’s “Marine Power” strategy and provides momentum for continued policy support. With marine emerging industries growing at 7.3% — well above the overall GOP rate — the structural shift toward higher-value, technology-intensive marine sectors appears well underway. As China prepares for its 15th Five-Year Plan period, the marine economy is poised to play an even more prominent role in the nation’s economic transformation.