en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to the latest data from Clarksons Research, a UK-based research firm, 194 new ships totaling 5,298,938 compensated gross tons (CGT) were ordered globally in May 2026. Compared to 301 ships and 8,539,897 CGT in April 2026, the number of orders decreased by 107 ships, and the CGT fell by 37.95% month-on-month. Compared to 142 ships and 2,421,035 CGT in May 2025, the number of orders increased by 52 ships year-on-year, and the CGT rose by 118.87% year-on-year.
Clarksons Research, founded in 1852 and headquartered in London, UK, is a leading global provider of shipping and shipbuilding data and research, offering comprehensive data services covering shipping, shipbuilding, offshore, and commodity trade. By vessel type, the global new orders in May 2026 included 26 bulk carriers, 28 oil tankers, 10 chemical tankers, 48 container ships, 36 liquefied gas carriers, 30 offshore vessels, and 16 other vessel types. Among the oil tankers, there were 4 very large crude carriers (VLCCs), 7 Suezmax tankers, 15 Aframax tankers, and 2 Panamamax tankers.
By country of the shipyard receiving orders, among the global new ship orders in May, Chinese shipyards secured 117 ships totaling 2,521,621 CGT, accounting for 47.59% of the global new ship order volume; South Korean shipyards secured 46 ships totaling 2,328,872 CGT, accounting for 43.95%; and Japanese shipyards secured 8 ships totaling 169,803 CGT, accounting for 3.20%. From January to May 2026, the cumulative global new ship orders reached 1,309 ships totaling 109,237,615 deadweight tons (DWT), compared to 1,173 ships and 45,480,032 DWT in the same period of 2025, representing year-on-year increases of 11.59% in the number of ships and 140.19% in DWT. Among these, China secured 906 new orders totaling 24,423,224 CGT, accounting for 68.59% of the global new ship order volume; South Korea secured 184 new orders totaling 7,472,834 CGT, accounting for 20.99%; and Japan secured 31 new orders totaling 563,779 CGT, accounting for 1.58%.
As of June 9, 2026, the global shipyard orderbook stood at 7,384 ships totaling 200,201,087 CGT. Among these, Chinese shipyards held orders for 5,108 ships totaling 129,899,171 CGT, accounting for 69.18% of the global market share by number of ships and 64.88% by CGT; South Korean shipyards held orders for 799 ships totaling 38,525,277 CGT, accounting for 10.82% by number of ships and 19.24% by CGT; and Japanese shipyards held orders for 706 ships totaling 12,760,797 CGT, accounting for 9.56% by number of ships and 6.37% by CGT. The global new ship order volume in May saw a significant month-on-month decline but maintained strong year-on-year growth, with Chinese shipbuilders retaining a leading global position in both order intake and orderbook volume.
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