China's Ocean Economy Index Rises 2.2% to 128.8 in 2025 in High-Quality Development Push

The Quick Take

• China's 2025 Ocean Economy Development Index reached 128.8, a 2.2% increase over the prior year
• The Ministry of Natural Resources released the data in its annual 2026 China Ocean Economy Development Index report
• The index reflects growth in China's marine industries including shipping, fisheries, offshore energy, and maritime tourism

China's Ministry of Natural Resources released its annual Ocean Economy Development Index, reporting a 2025 reading of 128.8 — a 2.2% increase versus the prior year. The index measures the health and growth trajectory of China's ocean-dependent industries, including deep-sea shipping, marine fisheries, offshore oil and gas, seabed mineral extraction, maritime tourism, and ocean technology manufacturing. The sustained upward trajectory, with an index now 28.8% above the base year level, reflects deliberate government investment in expanding China's blue economy as a strategic growth pillar, funded through the 14th Five-Year Plan's maritime sector allocations and coordinated infrastructure spending.

For international shipping and port operators, China's growing marine economy index signals sustained cargo volume growth out of Chinese ports — which already handle over 40% of global container throughput. A stronger Chinese ocean economy directly supports revenue prospects for global container shipping lines COSCO, Maersk, and MSC, as well as port equipment manufacturers and offshore energy service companies supplying deepwater equipment for China's South China Sea development projects. The 2.2% growth rate, while moderate, is notable given global trade headwinds from US-China tariffs and the Strait of Hormuz disruptions that complicated Chinese export routing in 2026.

The China Ocean Economy Index is a lagging indicator, reporting 2025 activity in mid-2026, so the forward signal is China's 2026 maritime capex budget — particularly offshore wind installation targets for the South China Sea targeting 30GW by 2030 and deep-sea rare mineral extraction program funding in the State budget. The macro variable is global container freight rates: the Baltic Exchange's container market indices are the real-time proxy for whether China's ocean economy expansion is translating into commercial shipping revenue. Any spike in container rates from ongoing Red Sea and Hormuz disruptions would represent a premium on top of the structural index growth.

Synthesized from 2 sources.