(Yicai) Aug. 1 -- China's marine economy grew at a faster pace than the gross domestic product in the first half of the year, thanks to the sustained release of macro policy effects and the recovery of external needs.

The output value of China's marine economy soared 5.6 percent to CNY4.9 trillion (USD677.5 billion) in the six months ended June 30 from a year earlier, according to data released yesterday by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The GDP grew 5 percent.

The marine economy, also known as ocean economy, includes a broad spectrum of industries, including fishing, shipping, coastal tourism, mineral extraction, and offshore energy.

China's marine area approved for use rose nearly 17 percent in the period, with over CNY500 billion (USD69.1 billion) worth of investment projects, the MNR noted. Offshore oil and gas extraction jumped 5.6 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively, and offshore power wind generation surged over 26 percent to 51.7 billion kilowatt hours.

The production of aquatic products increased over 4 percent in the first half from the same period last year. Desalination was also improved as two large projects with a total capacity of more than five million tons of seawater daily came on stream in the period.

China received new marine engineering equipment orders worth three times more than a year earlier in the first half of this year, while the value of orders in hand rose almost 12 percent.

The country's shipbuilding industry secured over 24 percent more new orders, finished 31 percent more vessels, and saw its orders in hand increase 23 percent in the period.

The value of China's first-half seaborne imports and exports rose 2.1 percent from a year earlier, 1.4 percentage point faster than in the first quarter. In terms of freight volume and turnover, the seaborne trade increased 6.2 percent and 6.8 percent.

The maritime services industry also showed rapid development trends. China commissioned its first intelligent aquatic sensing and warning system using the Beidou Satellite Navigation System and released a marine economy-focused large language model. The research and development of marine drugs and biological products also advanced.

However, only one-fifth of China's marine science and technology achievements realize industrialization, according to a report earlier released by a research group comprising the Ocean University of China and the National Marine Data Center.

Editors: Shi Yi, Futura Costaglione