SEOUL: South Korea recaptured the top spot in new global shipbuilding orders for the first time in five months in July, industry data showed Monday.
Local shipyards clinched orders totalling 1.46 million compensated gross tonnes (CGTs) to build 29 ships, accounting for 44 per cent of the global total of 3.33 million CGTs, according to London-based Clarkson Research Services Ltd.
The world total was up 22 per cent from the same month a year earlier.
It marks the first time since February for South Korean shipbuilders to take the leading spot.
China placed second with 1.13 million tons to construct 48 vessels, taking up 34 per cent of the global total.
In terms of order backlog, China topped the list with 55.35 million CGTs, or 47 per cent of the global total at 117.77 million CGTs as of end-July, which was up 190,000 CGTs from the prior month. China’s number rose 13 per cent on-year.
South Korea came second with 39.26 million CGTs, which was up 9 per cent from a month earlier and accounted for 33 per cent of the world total.
Clarkson’s Newbuilding Price Index, a barometer of price changes in newly built ships, came to 172.38 points last month, up 10.80 points from a year ago. – BERNAMA-YONHAP
