After the meeting between China’s two top state-run shipbuilders, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), the speculations on a possible merger are increasing. The groups met on March 14 and further strengthened communication and exchanges, expanded the scope of cooperation, promoted complementary advantages, and promoted the high-quality development of China’s shipbuilding industry in an intimate and friendly manner.
Specifically, according to CSIC’s statement, the top executives from the shipbuilding industry discussed several matters, such as smart manufacturing, naval products, cruise ships, clean energy and internationalisation to jointly serve the central government’s development strategy.
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Moreover, Hu Wenming, chairman of CSIC, and also the former chairman of CSSC, reported during the meeting that he hoped the two groups will increase efforts in communications and jointly promote the development of China’s shipbuilding industry.
The meeting was conducted after China’s National People’s Congress Conference during which the government reaffirmed its plan to push forward further consolidation in many sectors including shipbuilding.
In light of the speculations, was the merger to be completed, the shipbuilding competition between China and South Korea could be more intensified.
In the meantime, the shipbuilding industry is experiencing changes, as South Korean shipbuilding major Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an official contract with Korea Development Bank for the takeover of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, which would create one of the largest shipbuilders on a global scale.
Concluding, CSIC and CSSC were one conglomerate until 1999 when they were spilt in two with the Yangtze river serving as a geographic marker with CSIC in charge of northern yards and CSSC taking yards south of the river.
