South Korean yards secure 62 per cent of global newbuilding order tonnage in January 2025

South Korea ranked first in the world in terms of new ship orders by tonnage in January 2025, surpassing rival China, according to new data from industry research specialist Clarksons.

For the month of January 2025, the total number of global ship orders was 51 vessels with a combined 1.46 million GT, a decrease of 74 per cent compared with the same period last year.

South Korean shipyards received 900,000 CGT and 13 ship orders in January, accounting for 62 per cent of the global total and regaining the first place. Chinese shipyards meanwhile received 270,000 CGT and 21 ship orders, accounting for 19 per cent of the global total and ranking second.

Compared to the previous month, orders from South Korea rose sharply. In December 2024, South Korean shipyards accounted for only six per cent of global orders, while China accounted for per cent in the same period.

In terms of hand-held orders, as of the end of January, China ranked first with 91.51 million GT, accounting for 58 per cent of the global total of 156.79 million GT, a decrease of 1.32 million GT from the previous month.

South Korea came in second with 37.02 million GT, accounting for 24 per cent of the global total.