Korea’s major shipbuilders posted strong Q3 2025 earnings, but rising container ship orders and Chinese price competition have raised profitability concerns.
Greek shipowner JHI Steamship is finalising a deal with K Shipbuilding for two Aframax tankers, marking what would be its first South Korean newbuilding project.
The U.S. Trade Representative has strongly criticised China’s decision to sanction U.S. subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, framing it as economic coercion and a challenge to the global trade order.
HMM has committed ₩3.45 trillion to order 14 new LNG-powered vessels, marking a strategic leap toward green shipping and fleet modernization.
China’s shipbuilding sector faces a sharp 73% drop in new orders as global demand slows and U.S. restrictions tighten, while South Korea expands its market share in high-value vessels.
China has imposed sanctions on Hanwha Ocean’s U.S. subsidiaries, but South Korea’s shipbuilding industry remains largely unaffected, emphasizing its resilience through high-value, technology-driven specialization.
China’s Ministry of Commerce sanctioned five U.S.-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean under the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, escalating tensions in shipbuilding and logistics.
Hanwha Ocean has achieved a global first by completing an LNG ship-to-ship transfer during sea trials, demonstrating cutting-edge innovation in maritime LNG technology.
South Korea has announced $8 million subsidies per icebreaker as part of its Arctic shipping strategy, backed by a $5.2 billion maritime budget for 2026.
