# Chinese shipbuilders surpass South Korea in October LNG orders

*Yards in China took five of seven large gas carrier contracts during the month, claiming a 71.4% share in a segment long led by Seoul.*

**Published:** November 9, 2026  
**By:** Mina Okoro  
**Section:** Analysis & Comparison — Cross-border  
**Format:** Asia Compare  
**Confidence:** medium  
**Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/analysis/chinese-shipbuilders-surpass-south-korea-october-lng-orders-1291  
**Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/)

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## What to know

- China took 71.4% of large LNG carrier orders in October, topping South Korea for the first time
- Chinese yards won 32 of 76 global orders through October to reach a 42.1% annual share
- USTR port-fee waiver on Chinese-built vessels extends through Jan. 9, 2027

![A shipyard worker inspects the curved metal hull of a vessel under construction in a large industrial shipyard facility. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-11-09-99c8e687e608.webp)
*A shipyard worker inspects the curved metal hull of a vessel under construction in a large industrial shipyard facility. (AI-generated image)*

Chinese shipbuilders captured 71.4% of global orders for large liquefied natural gas carriers in October, surpassing South Korea on a monthly basis for the first time, Clarksons Research reported Nov. 9, 2026.

Chinese yards secured five of seven large LNG vessels ordered worldwide during the month. South Korean shipbuilders booked the remaining two hulls, marking an unexpected reversal in a specialized segment long dominated by Korean yards.

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Cite as: East Asia Brief, "Chinese shipbuilders surpass South Korea in October LNG orders," November 9, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/analysis/chinese-shipbuilders-surpass-south-korea-october-lng-orders-1291