Outcome 1 - regional structure

Question 1

Discuss regional structure of shipbuilding in terms of historical development, capacity and current status

Answer 1

• 30 countries have significant merchant shipbuilding industry
• Ship production trebled from 8.4m gt in 1960 to 27m gt in 1977, then halved to 13m gt in 1980, then up to 16m gt by 1990, then doubled to 44m gt in 2005
• Volatility accompanied by shift in regional shipbuilding capacity
• Europe’s market share fell from 66% to 10%
• Asia’s grew from 22% to 84% - Japan and S Korea now dominate producing 2/3 ships
• China trebled production between 2000 and 2005
• Remaining production in Europe, which declined in 80s and stopped in some
• Market upturn in 2000s brought new Asian shipyards into play
• Current status – market focus on export market instead of domestic customers