Shipbuilders to benefit from LNG ship orders in 2019

SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shipbuilders are expected to continue to benefit from a growing number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship orders this year, people in the industry said Tuesday.

In 2019, the world's overall LNG ship orders are likely to reach 69, rising from 65 in 2018 and 17 in 2017, according to data compiled by the London-based shipping group Clarkson Research.

Rising demand for LNG ships is partly due to China's policy to encourage businesses to use LNG, an eco-friendly fuel, a shipbuilding official said.

Helped by robust LNG ship orders, South Korea's three biggest shipbuilders -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Samsung Heavy Industries Co. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. -- achieved their order targets for 2018.

Hyundai Heavy received US$13.3 billion worth of orders last year, higher than its goal of $1.32 billion. Samsung Heavy bagged $5.7 billion worth of orders, exceeding its target of $5.1 billion. Daewoo Shipbuilding earned $6.81 billion in orders, higher than its target of $6.6 billion, the companies said.

The three shipbuilders are the world's three biggest shipbuilders by orders.

In contrast, a rebound in offshore facility orders is unlikely this year as global oil majors remain cautious about investing in oil exploring ships due to declining oil prices, the official said.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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