Korea's shipbuilding industry is expected to pursue more containership contracts as US scrutiny of Chinese vessels creates opportunities, reports Seoul's ChosunBiz.

Clarksons Research said Korean yards secured 5.26 million compensated gross tons (CGT) of container ship orders in 2025, equal to 105 ships, up 128 per cent from a year earlier. The surge followed a US Trade Representative decision to impose port entry fees on Chinese-flagged or Chinese-built ships, prompting carriers to turn to Korean builders.

Although the US fee has been deferred for one year, industry officials said uncertainty over its resumption will continue to benefit Korean yards.

China still dominates the global containership market, with its share rising from 63.6 per cent in 2022 to 87.7 per cent in 2024. Korea's share fell from 26.5 per cent to 9.6 per cent over the same period.

Korean yards have concentrated on LNG carriers, where they hold a technological edge and margins are higher. Clarkson forecasts demand for 115 LNG carriers in 2026, nearly triple the 37 ordered last year, underscoring Korea's continued strength in that sector.