There may be only 20 to 30 active shipyards left in China in the next few years after restructurings and consolidations, reported a domestic shipping news portal, citing Ren Yuanlin, executive chairman of the country's leading privately-run shipbuilder Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd..

Ren said that China's relatively weak shipyards including state-owned ones will be merged by stronger ones in the future, which is determined by the market force and welcomed by the Chinese government.

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding will seek opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, Ren added.