Ship building and recycling

Mapping historical trends of where ships were built and are being recycled provides crucial insights for understanding the lifecycle of maritime assets, which is particularly important in the context of material flow analysis (MFA) and material criticality. By tracking shipbuilding locations, it is possible to identify regions with concentrated production capabilities and analyze how these trends shift over time, reflecting economic, technological, and environmental changes. Similarly, knowing where ships are being recycled allows for the assessment of the flow of materials from decommissioned vessels back into the supply chain. This information is essential for evaluating the availability and sustainability of key materials, such as steel, copper, and rare metals, and understanding their potential risks for critical material shortages. Mapping these trends helps to inform strategies for resource management, circular economy models, and the mitigation of risks associated with material supply disruptions, making it a vital component of sustainable shipping practices and policy planning.

Location of main ship building and recycling facilities

Shipbuilding was historically concentrated in Europe and Japan, which led global production for much of the 20th century, driven by advanced technology and strong industrial infrastructure. However, over the past few decades, production has shifted significantly towards South Korea, China, and other Southeast Asian countries. This shift is evident in the map below, where we can observe the growing dominance of these regions in shipbuilding, largely due to lower labor costs, increased investment in shipyards, and the rapid industrialization of these nations. The controller allows us to track this transition over time, highlighting how these countries have come to dominate global ship production.

Ship recycling is now predominantly concentrated in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, with Turkey also playing a significant role. These regions have become major hubs for the dismantling of decommissioned ships due to their lower labor costs and established recycling industries. While the shipbuilding industry has shifted largely to China, South Korea, and other Southeast Asian nations, ship recycling remains centered in these countries due to their vast waterfront facilities and labor force availability.

Country share represented as trends

The movement of shipbuilding towards Southeast Asia is particularly pronounced when plotted as the share of total global shipbuilding, as shown in the map below. Over time, the shift in production from Europe and Japan to South Korea, China, and other Southeast Asian countries becomes clearly visible, with these regions steadily increasing their share of global shipbuilding output. This trend is a result of factors such as lower labor costs, larger investments in shipyard infrastructure, and more favorable economic conditions.

A similar plot for ship recycling reveals that the same countries (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Turkey) have maintained a consistent share of global recycling over the past 15 years. Despite fluctuations in global demand and environmental regulations, these nations have remained the dominant players in ship dismantling, with their share of the market largely unchanged during this period.

Author: Diogo Kramel
Model: Ship Data Completer
Repository: GitHub
Data Version: v1.0.0 | 2025-02-13
Latest Update: March 24, 2025
Contact: diogo.kramel@ntnu.no