Shipbuilding, China · Korea · Japan

Three East Asian countries deliver nearly all of the world's merchant ships, with China now dominating more than half the tonnage, including giant container ships of over 24,000 TEU. The United States produces fewer than ten merchant ships a year; Europe has retreated to cruise liners. Every future fleet, including cable ships and LNG carriers, depends on dry docks located within the immediate perimeter of a potential conflict.