China Tops Global Auto Exports with 7.1 Million Vehicles, Driving Up Freight Rates Amid Shipping Shortages

In 2025, China exported 7.098 million vehicles, up 21.1% year-on-year, ranking first globally in automotive exports. In 2019, China’s exports of cars and light commercial vehicles totaled less than 600,000 units. Industry analysts forecast that China’s vehicle exports could surpass 10 million units by 2026. The surge in exports has widened the supply-demand gap for specialized car carriers, leaving ports along China’s coast—including Shanghai, Nantong, and Guangzhou—with persistently high volumes of vehicles awaiting shipment. Wallenius Wilhelmsen stated that its fleet departing from Asia is fully booked, forcing the company to prioritize customer orders. In the second quarter of 2025, spot freight rates and time-charter rates on China-related routes rose by approximately 80% from their first-quarter lows. BYD, Geely, and Chery have entered the top ten global automakers by sales volume. Some Chinese automakers are securing export capacity through long-term vessel charters, joint booking arrangements, and participation in shipbuilding projects.