Top maritime carriers from China
16 carriers based in China, ranked by number of ships.
China is home to 16 maritime carriers operating a combined fleet of around 1129 vessels. Below is the live ranking of these companies by fleet size, sourced from carrier reports and industry datasets.
The top three carriers — COSCO Shipping, Zhonggu Logistics and COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd. — account for approximately 65% of the total fleet linked to China, reflecting the heavy industry concentration typical of the maritime sector.
The maritime activity tied to China spans several generations: the oldest tracked carrier (Shanghai Jinjiang Shipping) was established in 1983, while the most recent (Taicang Container Lines) was founded in 2011.
Carriers from China
Combined fleet (ships)
Average per company
Where carriers linked to China actually sail
Distribution of trade-lane coverage for carriers in this ranking. Most operate multi-region services, which explains why the percentages sum to more than 100%.
Featured carriers from this ranking
A closer look at the top three operators ranked here. Each profile summarises their fleet, founding year and regional coverage.
516 vessels in fleet · 404 maritime lines · 8 trade regions covered
View full profile102 vessels in fleet · 7 trade regions covered
View full profileAll carriers from China
Full list of carriers headquartered in China, sorted by fleet size. 16 carriers listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many carriers are headquartered in China?
Who is the largest carrier from China?
Are subsidiaries included in this China ranking?
Source: Seadex aggregated data, 2026
Explore Other Rankings
Fleet Size
Ranking by number of ships
Compare shipping companies based on the total number of vessels in their fleet
View Fleet Size rankingVolume Transported
Ranking by million TEU transported
See which shipping companies move the largest volume of containers globally
View Volume Transported rankingFleet Capacity
Ranking by container fleet capacity (M TEU)
Compare the total carrying capacity of shipping company fleets worldwide
View Fleet Capacity rankingPorts Coverage
Ranking by number of covered ports
Compare shipping companies based on their global port coverage and network reach
View Ports Coverage rankingGlobal Presence
Ranking by presence in number of countries
See which shipping companies have the widest global footprint across different countries
View Global Presence rankingMaritime Routes
Ranking by number of maritime lines
Discover which companies offer the most extensive network of maritime shipping routes
View Maritime routes rankingEnergy Efficiency
Ranking by EEDI (gCO2 per TEUkm)
Compare the Energy Efficiency Design Index of different shipping companie.
View Energy Efficiency rankingOperational Efficiency
Ranking by annual CO2 reduction (EEOI)
See which companies are improving their Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator the fastest
View Operational Efficiency rankingContainer Safety
Ranking by containers lost (% of moved TEU)
Compare companies based on their container safety record and loss prevention
View Container Safety rankingTotal Emissions Reduction
Ranking by annual CO2 reduction (total operations)
See which companies are reducing their total carbon footprint the fastest
View Total Emissions Reduction rankingFleet Emissions Reduction
Ranking by annual CO2 reduction (fleet only)
Compare companies based on how quickly they re reducing their fleet emissions
View Fleet Emissions Reduction rankingAlternative Fuels
Ranking by fleet % using biofuels or dual-fuel engines
Discover which companies are leading in the adoption of cleaner fuel technologies
View Alternative Fuels rankingFleet Emissions
Total fleet emissions (ktons CO2eq, Scope 1)
Compare the absolute emissions from shipping fleets without adjusting for company size
View Fleet Emissions rankingTotal Company Emissions
Total company emissions (ktons CO2eq)
See the total carbon footprint of shipping companies including all operations
View Total Company Emissions rankingCO2 Emissions (WtW)
Ranking by CO2 emissions (Well-to-Wake)
Compare the lifecycle CO2 emissions of shipping companies from fuel production to vessel operation
View CO2 Emissions (WtW) rankingAnnual CO2 Reduction (Scope 1)
Ranking by annual % CO2 reduction (Scope 1)
Track which shipping companies are achieving the fastest annual reduction in direct CO2 emissions
View Annual CO2 Reduction (Scope 1) rankingAnnual Revenue
Ranking by annual revenue (USD bn)
Compare shipping companies based on their annual revenue and market share
View Annual Revenue rankingBrowse carriers by region
See top carriers operating in a specific region — from intra-Asia services to transatlantic players.
Browse carriers by HQ country
Discover the leading shipping companies headquartered in each major maritime nation.