BEIJING – As China commemorated World Oceans Day on June 8, the Ministry of Natural Resources revealed groundbreaking figures: the nation’s marine economy has breached the 10 trillion yuan threshold for the first time, reaching 10.54 trillion yuan ($1.45 trillion) in 2024. This 5.9% year-on-year growth outperforms the national GDP increase by 0.9 percentage points, with the sector now constituting 7.8% of China’s total economic output.
Deep-Sea Tech Emerges as Growth Engine
The first quarter of 2025 maintained this momentum with 2.5 trillion yuan in marine GDP, up 5.7% annually. A technological revolution is underway beneath the waves – China now boasts over 172,700 deep-sea technology enterprises, 60% established within the past three years. This innovation surge ranges from underwater robotics to marine biotechnology, positioning China at the forefront of blue economy advancements.
Regional Pioneers Chart Sustainable Course
Coastal provinces are implementing cutting-edge models. Fujian has transformed its “blue pastures” into carbon sinks through pioneering fisheries carbon sequestration projects. Shanghai marked Oceans Week by launching its Underwater Robotics Engineering Technology Innovation Center, accelerating the commercialization of subsea AI systems. These initiatives exemplify China’s shift toward intelligent, eco-friendly marine development.
Cultivating New Marine Productive Forces
“These achievements demonstrate our ocean economy’s remarkable resilience,” stated a ministry spokesperson. Future priorities include building modern marine industrial systems and enhancing resource management mechanisms. With strategic investments in deep-sea mining equipment and marine carbon capture technologies, China is positioning its blue economy as both an economic stabilizer and innovation incubator for the coming decade.
Green Energy Transition Gains Momentum
The marine renewable energy sector is experiencing particularly rapid transformation, with offshore wind leading the charge. According to the report, China installed 5.2 gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity in 2024 alone – enough to power approximately 4 million households. This expansion comes as major state-owned energy companies invest heavily in floating wind turbine technology, which unlocks deeper water sites. Meanwhile, tidal and wave energy projects along the Fujian and Zhejiang coasts are moving from pilot phase to commercial deployment, with the first 100-megawatt tidal array scheduled for completion near the Zhoushan Islands by late 2025.
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