New report shows China's ocean economy surpasses $1.4 trillion milestone

China's ocean development demonstrated robust and quality growth in 2024, with the gross ocean product exceeding 10 trillion yuan (about $1.4 trillion) for the first time, according to a key official report released on Monday.

The 2025 China Ocean Development Index Report, unveiled by the National Marine Data and Information Service and the China Association of Marine Affairs at the 2025 Global Ocean Development Forum in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, showed that the overall index value reached 129.7 in 2024 – a year-on-year increase of 2.9 percent.

Experts noted that the strong performance reflects the steady, high-quality advancement of China's ocean economy and the solid progress in building a strong maritime country.

Economic and social development: A new benchmark

The economic and social development sub-index rose to 133.0, an increase of 3.1 percent from the previous year. The sector's total output value grew by 5.9 percent year-on-year, surpassing the 10 trillion yuan threshold for the first time. Emerging marine industries and marine manufacturing maintained rapid growth, leading to continuous industrial restructuring. Public welfare also improved, with the per capita share of marine aquatic products increasing by 0.5 kilograms.

Technological innovation: Breakthrough achievements

The technological innovation sub-index climbed to 135.2, up 2.6 percent year-on-year. Strong investment in marine sci-tech innovation and significant progress in building platform infrastructures supported this growth. Breakthroughs were achieved in key equipment, including the commissioning of China's first domestically designed and built oceanic drilling ship, the "Meng Xiang," and the successful 4,000-meter sea trial of the deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle the "Kaituo 2" in the Western Pacific.

Ecological and environmental protection: Steady and improving

The ecological environment sub-index registered at 126.6, increasing by 2.4 percent. Coastal water quality remained generally stable, with 83.7 percent of nearshore areas boasting good water quality. Marine ecosystem health was stable, with local improvements and habitats including coral reefs, seagrass beds, coastal salt marshes, and mangroves were largely in good condition. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), over 400 kilometers of coastline and more than 31,000 hectares of coastal wetlands have been restored, demonstrating systematic progress in marine ecological protection.

Efficient resource utilization

The resource utilization sub-index reached 128.2, growing 2.8 percent year-on-year. Newly approved sea area use saw a substantial increase of 15.6 percent, effectively supporting major projects like oil and gas exploration and transport infrastructure. The generating capacity of offshore wind power surged by nearly 30 percent, enhancing marine energy supply. Furthermore, the daily production capacity of seawater desalination expanded by 13.2 percent, indicating a continued increase in the utilization of seawater resources.

Rising openness and international cooperation

The openness level sub-index rose to 128.7, up 3.0 percent. The total value of seaborne imports and exports grew by 1.9 percent, while trade with coastal countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 6.3 percent. Foreign investment used by coastal areas accounted for approximately 80 percent of the national total, reflecting robust development in international trade and investment. The throughput of foreign trade cargo at coastal ports increased by 6.9 percent, indicating stable growth in international shipping volumes.

Enhanced comprehensive management

The comprehensive management sub-index was 121.6, a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent. A total of 315 marine disaster warnings were issued throughout the year and open-sourced the Mazu series of autonomous ocean circulation and wave numerical models, marking improved forecasting capabilities. The number of current effective marine-related standards grew by 14.8 percent, highlighting advances in standardization. International exchanges and cooperation strengthened, with a 23.0 percent year-on-year increase in the number of participants in state-level international marine conferences and training programs hosted by China.