Last year, among the top 10 shipyards in the world by new ship orders, 7 were Chinese shipyards. It is interpreted that, as domestic "big 3" shipyards faced a lack of docks due to a boom in the shipbuilding industry, Chinese shipyards launched an aggressive push for orders.
According to Clarksons Research, a British maritime and shipping analysis firm, on the 26th, Chinese shipyards occupied the 1st to 4th places in terms of order volume last year. The 1st place was taken by the Chinese private company New Times Shipbuilding, followed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, and Hangzhou Zhonghua Heavy Industries in 2nd to 4th places.
South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and HD Hyundai Samho ranked 5th to 7th respectively. The remaining 8th to 10th places were taken by Chinese companies (Dalian Shipbuilding, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, and Jiangnan Shipyard).
This figure is unusual. This is because, until 2023, all of South Korea's big 3 (affiliated companies of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha Ocean) were included in the top 5 global order volumes.
The industry believes that South Korean shipyards, which have secured more than three years' worth of work, are opting for selective orders focused on high-value-added ships rather than increasing order volumes.
In terms of cumulative orders, South Korean shipyards still remain in the top ranks. The 1st place was occupied by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which recorded 8.93 million CGT, while Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean held 8.72 million and 8.49 million CGT, respectively, ranking 2nd and 3rd. HD Hyundai Samho also placed 6th.