According to the latest industry data, South Korea ranked first in global new ship orders in January, surpassing its competitor, China.
Clarksons data shows that in January 2025, the total global ship orders were 1.46 million CGT (51 ships), a sharp drop of 74% compared with the same period last year.
Among them, South Korean shipyards received 900,000 CGT(13 ships) in January, accounting for 62% of the global total, regaining the first place. Chinese shipyards received 270,000 CGT (21 ships), accounting for 19% of the global total, ranking second.
Compared with the previous month, South Korean orders have increased significantly. In December 2024, South Korean shipyards only accounted for 6% of global orders, while China accounted for 82% at that time.
In terms of order backlog, as of the end of January, China ranked first with 91.51 million CGT, accounting for 58% of the global total of 156.79 million CGT, which is a decrease of 1.32 million CGT from the previous month. South Korea ranked second with 37.02 million CGT, accounting for 24% of the global total.
The Clarkson Newbuilding Price Index reached 189.38 last month, an increase of 0.22 points from a year ago. The unit price for LNG carriers with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters or more is $260 million, the unit price for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) is $129 million, and the unit price for Ultra Large Container Ships is $275 million.