China’s Marine Economy Reaches 5.5 Trillion Yuan in First Half of Year

China’s gross ocean product reached 5.5 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, growing 5.1% year-on-year, according to data released by the Ministry of Natural Resources on August 3. The marine sector outpaced overall national gross domestic product growth by 0.4 percentage points and accounted for 7.9% of total GDP. Official statistics attribute the expansion to steady resource allocations, including 1,246 newly approved sea and island projects covering 123,000 hectares and involving over 380 billion yuan in planned investment.

Outpacing national GDP growth and contributing nearly 8% to total economic output, China's marine sector serves as a key stabilizer and growth engine amid macroeconomic pressures. The steady approval of sea and island usage demonstrates active government backing for investment in maritime infrastructure, industrial production, and transportation logistics.

China’s marine economy recorded steady expansion in the first half of the year, generating a total gross ocean product of 5.5 trillion yuan, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Natural Resources on August 3. The performance represents a year-on-year increase of 5.1% based on preliminary official calculations. Growth in the ocean economy outstripped China’s overall national gross domestic product growth rate by 0.4 percentage points during the six-month period. In total, output from marine-related activities accounted for 7.9% of China’s national gross domestic product, highlighting the sector's weight in the broader macroeconomic landscape. According to reporting by People's Daily citing the Ministry of Natural Resources, the sector demonstrated inherent development resilience and an expanding capacity to pull forward related economic activities during the first half of the year. Addressing the economic performance, Meng Qinglei, Deputy Director of the Department of Marine Strategic Planning and Economy at the Ministry of Natural Resources, attributed the stability of the marine economy to consistent resource and spatial element guarantees provided by civil authorities. Data provided by the ministry shows that during the first six months, authorities approved 1,246 new sea and island utilization projects nationwide. The combined area approved for development spanned 123,000 hectares, involving a cumulative investment value of more than 380 billion yuan. Meng noted that these allocations effectively satisfied resource demand across key sectors, including marine fisheries, industrial operations, and maritime transportation. The allocation of coastal and offshore resources underscores strategic efforts to secure spatial elements necessary for real-economy investments. By approving significant project areas for industrial and transportation infrastructure, domestic planners seek to maintain steady capital deployment while fortifying supply chains linked to maritime trade and resources.