Chinese shipyards maintained their lead in the shipbuilding market during April 2026, securing orders totaling 4.37 million compensated gross tons, an amount representing 67% of the global share. Facilities located in South Korea ranked second with 1.05 million compensated gross tons, corresponding to 16%.
During the reviewed month, global newbuilding orders totaled 6.49 million compensated gross tons, representing a 21% year-on-year increase and a 29% month-on-month progression, according to Imarine, based on data from Clarksons.
In the first four months of 2026, from January to April, the orderbook for ship construction rose to 26.07 million gross tons, corresponding to 839 vessels, showing a 43% year-on-year increase. In this period, Chinese shipyards secured orders for 18.52 million gross tons, translating into a market share of 71%. Meanwhile, South Korean facilities recorded 4.73 million gross tons, accounting for 18% of the global total.
As of April 30, 2026, the global orderbook for newbuilding vessels stood at 194.18 million compensated gross tons, an increase of 1.12 million CGT compared to the previous month, indicating a sustained growth trend in newbuilding orders.
During this period, Chinese shipyards recorded orders totaling 124.25 million compensated gross tons, representing a market share of 64%, an increase of 22.11 million compensated gross tons year-on-year and 1.01 million CGT month-on-month. Meanwhile, South Korean manufacturing facilities had orders totaling 37.02 million CGT, implying a market share of 19%, an increase of 1.54 million CGT year-on-year and 0.62 million CGT month-on-month.
At the end of April 2026, the Clarksons Newbuilding Price Index stood at 183.41, an increase of 1.34 points from the previous month, indicating a slight upward trend. Compared to April 2021, the index has risen by approximately 37%, suggesting that the overall upward trend in vessel prices continues.
For certain vessel types, the construction cost of a new 174,000 cubic meter LNG carrier is approximately USD 248.5 million; a very large crude carrier (VLCC), USD 130.5 million; and an ultra-large container ship (22,000 to 24,000 TEU), USD 260.5 million.
