China has remained the world's top shipbuilder in the first eight months of the year, according to the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry.

In a statement by China's State Council, it said that the country's shipbuilding output hit 23.94 million deadweight tons (DWT) in the January to August period, accounting for 45.4% of the world's total.

Meanwhile, new orders, another major indicator of the shipbuilding industry, also stood at 28.05 million dwt, with a global market share of 50.6%.

"Among the new orders, China's market share of high-end ship types further expanded, with those of liquefied natural gas ships accounting for nearly 30% of the global market share," the Chinese State Council said.

China's shipbuilding holding orders totalled 102.03 million dwt during the period, up 11.5% year-on-year.

The volume took up 47.7% of the market share globally.