Korean shipyards are poised to gain from US scrutiny of Chinese vessels, with a significant rise in containership orders, reports ChosunBiz.
Korea's shipbuilding industry is expected to pursue more containership contracts as US scrutiny of Chinese vessels creates opportunities, reports Seoul's ChosunBiz.
Clarksons Research stated that Korean yards secured 5.26 million compensated gross tons (CGT) of container ship orders in 2025, equivalent to 105 ships, marking a remarkable increase of 128 percent from the previous year. This surge followed a decision by the US Trade Representative to impose port entry fees on Chinese-flagged or Chinese-built ships, prompting carriers to turn to Korean builders.
Although the US fee has been deferred for one year, industry officials indicated that uncertainty over its potential resumption will continue to benefit Korean yards.
China still dominates the global containership market, with its share rising from 63.6 percent in 2022 to 87.7 percent in 2024. In contrast, Korea's share fell from 26.5 percent to 9.6 percent over the same period.
Korean yards have concentrated on LNG carriers, where they hold a technological edge and enjoy higher margins. Clarkson forecasts demand for 115 LNG carriers in 2026, nearly triple the 37 ordered last year, underscoring Korea's continued strength in that sector.