中国民营船厂规模是否重要?

Independent Chinese builders-does size matter?

目前许多小型民营船厂处境困难,存在进一步整合的空间;支撑民营船厂这个群体在中国造船业中继续发挥重要作用的,仍将是那些大型民营船厂。

The private sector of China's shipbuilding industry has been in the spotlight since the early 2000 s, proving key to the shipbuilding story, be it the starting up and rapid expansion of new yards, or the difficulties now being faced by vulnerable builders. Against a backdrop of three years of declining output from Chinese yards, it is worth taking a closer look at the dynamics of this particular group. China's independent yards are those backed by private interests, with neither a government background nor major overseas investment. Currently, there are 97 active independent yards. This is down from more than 300 at the market peak, after a prolonged period of credit tightening and dwindling investor interest. Nevertheless, independent yards have retained a high profile- the total orderbook at these 97 yards stood at 17.3m CGT at the start of March 2015, 40% of the total Chinese orderbook, and 15% more than the joint orderbook at the two giant shipbuilding groups CSIC and CSSC.While the basics of the shipbuilding business remain the ability to deliver good quality vessels on time and make a profit, size clearly matters. Many small private yards seem vulnerable, and there is scope for further consolidation. While the ‘White List' does not necessarily offer full protection to a yard, it is the larger independent builders who are clearly supporting the continued key role of the private sector in China's shipbuilding industry.