The shipping industry is the backbone of global trade, with goods transported by sea accounting for nearly 90 per cent of global trade each year. As globalization accelerates, shipping plays an increasingly important role in economic development. The core of this huge industry – shipbuilding – relies on top shipyards around the world. These shipyards are not only responsible for the construction of large merchant ships, but are also involved in the design and manufacture of specialized ships, warships and offshore equipment.
The global shipbuilding industry is becoming increasingly competitive, especially in terms of technological innovation, production capacity, quality control and delivery times. As a practitioner in the shipping industry, it is important to keep abreast of the world’s largest shipbuilders and their latest technological developments. This not only helps to grasp the dynamics of the industry, but also enables you to make more accurate decisions when choosing shipbuilding partners.
In this article, HENGER will provide you with a detailed overview of the world’s 15 largest shipyards. This covers business areas, market shares, technical characteristics and their impact on the shipping industry.
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Top 15 Shipbuilders in the World
The world’s top three shipbuilders are mainly located in South Korea, China and Japan. These shipyards not only produce civilian ships, but are also involved in various fields such as warships, high-end offshore engineering equipment, and oil and gas transportation. Below is a list of some of the world’s leading shipbuilders, as compiled by HENGER.
Hyundai Heavy Industries (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea)
Location: Ulsan, Korea
Core Business: Construction of large tankers, LNG carriers, oil and gas drillships, warships, etc.
Company Profile: Hyundai Heavy Industries is one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, with a wide range of products from commercial shipping to military vessels. As one of the leaders in the global ship market. Hyundai Heavy Industries not only focuses on the construction of conventional ships, but also aggressively expands its business related to offshore technology and the oil and gas industry. The company is also innovating in the fields of automation and digitalization to improve productivity and ship quality.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Core business: Shipbuilding, aerospace, defense, and various other fields
Company Profile: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a major player in the Japanese and global shipping markets. In addition to shipbuilding, the company is involved in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, energy, and defense. Its technological innovations and diversified product lines have given it strong competitiveness in the global market. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is particularly strong in the research and development of warships and high-end technology vessels, and has long supplied advanced military vessels to many countries.
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine, Korea)
Location: South Korea
Core Business: Icebreaker, LNG vessels, warships, tankers, etc.
Company Profile: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) is one of the giants of the South Korean shipbuilding industry with strong shipbuilding capabilities. Despite having been in financial crisis due to management problems and eventually being bailed out by the government, DSME still maintains its global leadership position. The company specializes in the development and manufacture of high-end vessels, with a strong technological footprint and market share in the LNG and high-tech shipbuilding sectors.
Samsung Heavy Industries (Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea)
Location: South Korea
Core Business: Drillships, FPSO vessels, LNG carriers, etc.
Company Profile: Samsung Heavy Industries is a leading company in the global shipbuilding market, known for its technological innovations and large shipbuilding capabilities. The world’s largest ethylene carrier built by Samsung Heavy Industries, as well as a number of important LNG vessels and drillship projects, have proven its leadership in the field of offshore engineering. In addition, Samsung Heavy Industries has extensive experience in the construction of offshore facilities such as FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units).
STX Offshore & Shipbuilding (STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Korea)
Location: Changwon, Busan, Korea
Core Business: Construction of LPG vessels, LNG carriers, tankers, etc.
Company Description:STX Offshore & Shipbuilding was once a major force in South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, with significant strengths in the production of LPG and LNG vessels in particular. Although the company withdrew from the European market and eventually went bankrupt in 2017 due to a financial crisis, it left a deep mark on the history of global shipbuilding.STX Europe, which used to operate a number of shipyards in a number of countries, is one of the key shipbuilders in the region.
Imabari Shipbuilding (Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan)
Location: Japan
Core business: Shipbuilding, maintenance and repair
Company Profile: Imabari Shipbuilding is one of the largest shipbuilders in Japan, particularly in terms of tonnage and market share, ahead of its domestic competitors. With its strong shipbuilding capabilities, Imabari Shipbuilding has gained a foothold in the global shipbuilding industry. Its comprehensive business covers not only newbuilding but also first-class ship repair and conversion services, making it an important partner for global shipping companies.
Fincantieri (Fincantini, Italy)
Location: Trieste, Italy
Core business: Construction of merchant ships, naval vessels and luxury cruise ships
Company Profile: Fincantieri is one of the largest shipbuilders in Europe, specializing in the construction of luxury cruise ships, warships and other commercial vessels. The company has expanded its market share globally through continuous acquisitions of other shipyards. In particular, Fincantini has a strong technological advantage in the field of high-end cruise ships and naval vessels. Fincantini has a significant presence in the global shipping and defense markets, particularly in the cruise ship segment.
JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation (Russia)
Location: Russia (Vladivostok, Severodvitsk, St. Petersburg)
Core business: Civil and military shipbuilding, specializing in high-tech vessels and warships
Company Profile: JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation is Russia’s largest shipbuilder, specializing in the construction of high-tech ships and military vessels. The company takes advantage of Russia’s technological strengths to advance the country’s maritime defense capabilities. It is particularly influential in the design and construction of warships and submarines. With the changes in the Russian economy and global market demand, JSC is gradually strengthening its cooperation with international markets and expanding its global presence.
China Shipbuilding Group (CSG, China)
Location: China
Core Business: Construction of LNG carriers, VLCC tankers, warships, etc.
Company Profile: China Shipbuilding Group is one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, formed in 2019 by the merger of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSSC). The company is not only a leader in civil shipbuilding, but also occupies an important position in areas such as military shipbuilding and offshore oil platforms. CSSC’s market share covers many regions of the world and it is a key pillar of the global shipping and offshore industry.
Sembcorp Marine Limited (Sembcorp Marine, Singapore)
Location: Singapore
Core Business: LNG vessels, passenger ships, research vessels, green shipping, etc.
Company Profile: Sembcorp Marine is a leading offshore engineering company in Singapore dedicated to green shipping and sustainable shipbuilding. Its main products include LNG vessels, passenger ships and vessels supporting green shipping. Sembcorp Marine has won wide acclaim in the global market for its advanced green technologies and innovative marine solutions, with particular strengths in marine resource development and environmentally friendly shipbuilding.
Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Japan)
Location: Oshima, Japan
Core business: Bulk carriers, ship maintenance and repair
Company Profile: Sumitomo Heavy Industries is a relatively small shipyard. However, with its technological innovations and efficient production processes, it can produce up to 40 vessels per year. The yard specializes in the construction of bulk carriers as well as ship maintenance and conversion, serving mainly the Asian market. Sumitomo Heavy Industries maintains its competitiveness in the Japanese shipbuilding market through improved productivity and refined management.
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding (Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, Japan)
Location: Japan
Core business: Bulk carrier construction
Company Profile: Tsuneishi Shipbuilding is a medium-sized shipyard in Japan specializing in the construction of bulk carriers. With high productivity and a steadily growing annual output, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding mainly supplies vessels to the Asian and European markets. Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has become one of the key players in the Japanese shipbuilding industry through optimization of production processes and technological upgrading, with a particular strength in the manufacture of medium-sized bulk carriers.
Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, Korea)
Location: South Korea
Core Business: Construction of tankers, large container ships, etc.
Company Profile: Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, part of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, has strong shipbuilding capabilities and specializes in the construction of large tankers and container ships. As an important part of the Korean shipbuilding industry, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries plays an important role in the global shipping market. The company’s commitment to technological innovation has resulted in the production of ships that have earned a good reputation among global shipping companies, with particular strengths in the construction of large vessels.
Shandong Heavy Industry Group (Shandong Heavy Industry Group, China)
Location: Shandong, China
Core Business: Manufacture of bulk carriers, tankers, LNG carriers, etc.
Company Profile:: Shandong Heavy Industry Group is one of the leaders in China’s heavy industry, with a number of shipyards covering bulk carriers, tankers, LNG carriers and other ship categories. As an important representative of China’s heavy industry, Shandong Heavy Industry Group has extensive influence in both domestic and international markets, especially in terms of efficient production system and cost control with obvious advantages. The company continues to promote technological innovation to gradually expand its share in the global shipbuilding market.
Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries (Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries, Romania)
Location: Romania
Core business: Construction of tankers, merchant ships, etc.
Company Profile: Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries is the largest shipyard in Romania, specializing in the construction of tankers and merchant vessels. As an important shipyard in Eastern Europe, Daewoo Mangalia not only serves the domestic market, but also provides high-quality ship products to a number of global markets. The company has gained a market share in the global shipbuilding industry by introducing advanced shipbuilding technologies and improving its production processes.
Summary
The global shipbuilding industry occupies a key position in the shipping industry, directly affecting international trade and transportation efficiency. Major shipbuilders such as Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea, China Shipbuilding Group of China and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan are no longer limited to the construction of traditional merchant ships. They are no longer limited to the construction of traditional merchant ships, but are also actively expanding into high-end areas such as LNG carriers, oil and gas carriers and warships.
As an equipment supplier to shipyards around the world, HENGER is committed to providing high-quality equipment support to major shipyards. We have a clear advantage in products such as pneumatic fenders and launching airbags, which help to improve the efficiency and safety of ship construction and operation.