Ship Building Market Report 2025

The ship building market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $221.13 billion in 2024 to $236.09 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to economic growth in emerging markets, an increasing demand for cruise ships, increasing seaborne trade and favorable government initiatives.

The ship building market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $295.63 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to an increasing demand for e-commerce, growing tourism and a growing population. Major trends in the forecast period include focus on integration of artificial intelligence (AI), green ship building technologies, surge in LNG (liquefied natural gas)-fueled engines, use of robotics, digital twin technology, solar and wind powered ships, partnerships and collaborations and rising investments.

The growth of seaborne trade is expected to significantly boost the shipbuilding market. Factors such as a rising population, increasing consumer purchasing power, and improving living standards are driving demand for consumer goods, which in turn leads to heightened production and rapid industrialization. For instance, the REVIEW OF MARITIME TRANSPORT 2023 report published by the UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) noted that in 2022, total seaborne trade reached 12.02 billion tons, with a 3.7% decline in containerized trade, while oil and gas trade grew by 6% and 4.6%, respectively. Projections for 2023 indicate a 2.4% growth in total seaborne trade and a 1.2% increase in containerized trade, with expected annual growth rates of 2.1% for total seaborne trade and 3.2% for containerized trade in 2024. Therefore, the increasing seaborne trade is contributing to the growth of the shipbuilding market.

The shipbuilding market is expected to benefit from the growing tourism industry. The tourism industry, encompassing leisure, social, or business travel, indirectly impacts the shipbuilding market by generating demand for various types of vessels, infrastructure development, and maintenance services. For example, a report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization in May 2023 reveals that international tourist receipts exceeded USD 1 trillion, marking a 50% increase in real terms over 2021 due to a significant resurgence in global travel in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, total foreign arrivals reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels. As a result, the growing tourism industry is a driving force behind the shipbuilding market's growth.

The adoption of 3D printing technology in shipbuilding is a prominent trend in the market in recent years. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is gaining traction across various sectors, including shipbuilding. Companies in this market are collaborating with other industry players to integrate advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printing to enhance their capabilities. For example, in July 2022, the Naval Postgraduate School, a U.S.-based military education and research institution, launched a 3D printing initiative aboard the USS Essex, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. This project aims to test and evaluate the use of 3D printing technology under underway conditions, enabling the ship to fabricate critical components such as heat sinks, fuel adapters, and valve covers. This innovation enhances self-sufficiency, reduces maintenance time, and improves warfighting readiness.

Major companies in the shipbuilding and repairing market are introducing new products, including green container ships, to expand their customer base, drive sales, and increase revenue. Green container ships are vessels designed to minimize environmental impact and reduce carbon footprint. For example, in April 2023, Denmark-based shipping company Maersk A/S launched a green methanol-powered container ship. This product, a feeder ship with a 2,100 TEU capacity, is the first of nineteen carbon-neutral vessels powered by green methanol fuel. Maersk has secured suppliers to provide approximately 1 million metric tons of green methanol fuel annually for its methanol-fueled fleet. This initiative is expected to prevent atmospheric emissions of around 2.3 million metric tons of CO2 per year compared to conventional fuel-powered ships.

In September 2022, KH Investment acquired Daehan Shipbuilding for ₩ 200 billion ($148 million) as part of its strategy to build capacity and collaborate with Daehan Shipbuilding employees to establish a new business system. KH Investment secured a 95% stake in the shipyard through a consortium led by Korea Investment Private Equity and SG Private Equity. Daehan Shipbuilding, based in South Korea, specializes in ship construction and repair services, with a focus on building tanker, container, and liquefied natural gas ships.

Major companies operating in the ship building market include Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd, Samsung Heavy Industries, Fincantieri S.p.A, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Imabari Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Ltd, CSSC Offshore and Marine Engineering Group Company Limited, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Western India Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Adani Kattupalli Shipyard (Larsen & Toubro), Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, Qingdao Captain Marine Co.,Ltd, HBM-Huanan Building Materials (Shenzhen) Co.,Ltd, Headway Technology Co.,Ltd, Star MarinePro Corp. Limited, China Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd, TGE Marine Gas Engineering, Emden Dockyard (Emder Werft und Dock GmbH), Schoenrock Hydraulik Marine Systems GmbH, Gebr. Friedrich GmbH & Co, Neptun Ship Design, I.G. Giourouk GmbH, NORIS Group GmbH, Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co. KG, Lethe GmbH, Ostseestaal GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburgische Schiffbau-Versuchsanstalt GmbH - Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA), Fosen Yard Emden GmbH, Amur Shipbuilding Plant, Pregol Shiprepair Yard, Lotos Shipbuilding Plant, Vyborg Shipyard Jsc, Nakhodka Shiprepair Yard, JSC Okskaya Shipyard, Zvezda Shipbuilding (SSK), Monterey Boats, Ellicott Dredges, Marine Specialty Painting, Bertram Yachts, BAYONNE DRY-DOCK & REPAIR CORP, Indmar Products Co, Inc., Master Boat Builders, Inc., Crestliner Boats, Advanced Integrated Technologies (AIT), Back Cove Yachts, Advex Corporation, East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC, Intech Boating, Flexboat Năutica, Shipyard Rio Tiete Ltd, Naproservice, Flexprin Indústria Com e Serv Marítimos, OKEAN YACHTS, Global Ship Service, Active Nautical, RBNA Classification Society, Drydocks World Dubai, Albwardy Damen Marine Engineering Dubai, Grandweld Shipyards, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), Oceanic Ship Repair and Engineering Services LLC, Premier Marine Engineering Services (L.L.C), The Damen Group, Southern African Shipyards, Dormac Marine & Engineering, DCD Enerji Çevre ve Teknoloji A.S, Southern Engineering Co. Ltd, Nigerdock FZE, West Atlantic Shipyard.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the shipbuilding market in 2024. Western Europe was the second largest market in global shipbuilding market share. The regions covered in the ship building market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the ship building market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Canada, Spain.

Shipbuilding involves the creation of ships and other watercraft, encompassing tasks such as design, engineering, material sourcing, and assembly. This work takes place in shipyards, utilizing specialized tools and expertise to construct various types of vessels, including commercial, military, and leisure ships.

The primary categories of shipbuilding encompass bulkers, tankers, containers, cruises, ferries, and other specialized types. Container ships, for instance, lack hatches, resulting in the absence of a continuous main deck running the length of the vessel. Various applications of shipbuilding include passenger transportation, goods transportation, military applications, and utilization by transport companies and other end-users.

The shipbuilding market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides shipbuilding market statistics, including the shipbuilding industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a shipbuilding market share, detailed shipbuilding market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the shipbuilding industry. This shipbuilding market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The shipbuilding market include revenues earned by entities by construction of ships, conversion, and alteration. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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