South Korean yards defend VLAC pricing as China grabs berths in 2026
Chinese shipbuilders secured 26 of 40 global very large ammonia carrier orders through July, taking a 65% share while Korean builders pushed deliveries to 2030 at premium contract rates.
HLBy Hyun-jung Lee, Korea correspondent, shipbuilding and defense··Updated November 3, 2026·4 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailA row of newly constructed gas carriers sits along the docks of a South Korean shipyard beneath industrial cranes. (AI-generated image)
Qatar Gas Transport Company named nine newly built gas carriers at South Korean shipyards on Nov. 3, 2026, demonstrating delivery execution as Chinese rivals aggressively expand order backlogs.
Chinese shipyards secured 26 of 40 global very large ammonia carrier orders between January and July 2026. That performance gave Chinese builders a 65% share of new vessel contracts.
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Korea correspondent, shipbuilding and defense — Hyun-jung Lee reports on Korean yards, order books and naval programs, and on the defense export contracts that increasingly sit alongside them.
