Shipbuilding: LNG carrier prices fall as KMTC orders in China

· Shipping · South Korea · China

Prices for high-value vessels including LNG carriers and ultra-large container ships have begun to decline despite rising demand, with LNG carrier prices falling to $245 million. Competition from Chinese shipbuilders entering the premium segment and aggressive supply strategies are pressuring prices, threatening the margins of Korean yards. In a parallel sign of Asian capacity dynamics, Korea Marine Transport Company signed for six 3,100 TEU container ships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in China — its first containership newbuilding order placed outside Korea. Equipment supplier Kongsberg Maritime reported a record NOK 29.75 billion order backlog and NOK 8.32 billion in quarterly order intake, underscoring how broad newbuild demand remains.

Why it matters：Falling premium-vessel prices shift bargaining power toward buyers and squeeze Korean yards, while Chinese yards' move upmarket redraws global shipbuilding competition.

Key points

  • LNG carrier prices dropped to $245 million.
  • KMTC's order covers six 3,100 TEU ships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong.
  • Kongsberg Maritime's backlog reached NOK 29.75 billion.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day