All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg · Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Viv "Jason" Altacar and Dino Mavroudis discussed the stark contrast in shipbuilding capabilities between the US and China. Mavroudis stated that China can build 23 million gross tons of ships annually, compared to the US's 100,000 gross tons, a 230-to-1 ratio, with China holding 57% of global capacity.
“The United States can build 100,000 gross tons of ships every year. Gross ton is a volumetric measure of ships. So if you build, you know, a 200-foot ship, that's different than an 800-foot ship. But let's compare apples to apples. 100,000 gross tons. The Chinese, which you were referencing, can build 23 million gross tons. So they can outbuild the US 230 to 1.”
“30 years ago, the Chinese didn't have this capability. They had 5% of the world's shipbuilding capacity. Today, they have 57% of the world's shipbuilding capacity.”