[아이뉴스24 정종오 기자] Korea’s shipbuilding industry achieved the world’s No. 1 order in the first quarter of this year. In the first quarter, orders received 5.32 million CGT and exports recorded 7.35 billion dollars. This is the largest order volume in the first quarter of 13 years since the Joseon boom in 2006-2008.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Sung Yun-mo) announced on the 4th that the Korean shipbuilding industry achieved the world’s No. 1 order volume by winning an order of 5.32 million CGT ($11.9 billion) out of the 12.5 million CGT ordered worldwide in the first quarter of this year.
This achievement is an increase of 923% compared to the same period last year and 157% compared to 2019. This is the largest order volume in the first quarter in 13 years since the Joseon boom (2006~2008).
The Ministry of Industry explained that this shows that the domestic shipbuilding industry, which had been stagnant due to Corona 19 and oil prices in 2020, is gradually recovering.
In March of this year, it won 2.87 million CGT (55%) out of the 5.21 million CGT orders worldwide, ranking the world’s No. 1 for six consecutive months, continuing the recent increase in domestic shipbuilding orders.
It is evaluated that the performance in the high value-added ship market, which is leading the Korean shipbuilding industry, has greatly contributed to the performance in the first quarter. In the high value-added ship market, Korea won 4.26 million CGT (76%) of the 560 CGT orders worldwide. This is 80% of the total order volume (532 million CGT) in the first quarter of Korea.
77 containerships were ordered, which increased orders due to rising freight rates. LNG (2 vessels) and VLCC (23 vessels) are showing good results by winning 100% of orders worldwide.
It was confirmed that Korea is steadily increasing its competitiveness in the future eco-friendly ship market by winning 78% (2.21 million CGT) of eco-friendly fuel propulsion ships such as LNG and LPG worldwide.
Exports also recorded 7.35 billion dollars, an increase of 29% from the same period last year (5.71 billion dollars), the highest performance since 2016.
Meanwhile, global orders this year are expected to reach 31.5 million CGT, an increase of 54.1% compared to 2020 (24.4 million CGT). This is a 32.4% increase from the 23.8 million CGT originally forecast. The Ministry of Industry added that the recovery trend of the shipbuilding industry is expected to continue for the time being.
/Sejong = Reporter Jeong Jong-oh ([email protected])
