South Korea retakes top spot in shipbuilding orders in October

South Korea grabbed the top spot in the global shipbuilding market in October, as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier market dominance continues.

According to London-based Clarkson Research Services, South Korean shipyards, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries, won orders totaling 1.29 million compensated gross tons (CGTs) in October.

This number was reached through orders for 17 ships, accounting for 86 percent of the orders placed around the globe.

China, which topped global shipbuilding orders in September, only secured orders for 150,000 CGTs or eight ships in October.

Clarkson also stated that this was the first time this year that South Korea surpassed 1 million CGTs in monthly orders.

In the first ten months of the year, South Korean shipbuilders secured orders totaling 6.95 million CGTs worth $15.9 billion, ahead of their Chinese rivals who bagged a total of 6.11 million CGTs in orders worth $13.6 billion.

In terms of order backlog, China tops the list with 26.42 million CGTs, followed by South Korea with 21.32 million CGTs, and Japan with 11.91 million CGTs.

It is worth noting that South Korea’s dominance in the LNG carrier market is spearheading its overall performance. Namely, South Korean shipyards won 32 of 35 orders placed for LNG carriers in the first ten months of 2019.