GREECE, JAPAN AND CHINA TOPS LIST OF WORLD SHIPOWNERS, SAYS UNCTAD

Daniel Bosch Wood

Maritim Lawyer

LLM Southampton

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Meanwhile, South Korea, China and Japan are the largest shipbuilders

The five main shipowners at the global level are Greece, Japan, China, Germany and Singapore. Together, they have a market share of 49.5% of the Dead Sea tonnage (TPM) of the world fleet. Only one Latin American country (Brazil) is among the top 35 ship-owner countries, while none of Africa is listed, an article from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development acronym in English)

Meanwhile, the top 5 flag registrations are maintained by Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Together, they have a market share of 57.8%. Developing countries account for more than 76% of the world’s TPM fleet.

In terms of vessel types, bulk carriers account for 42.8% of MPRs, followed by oil tankers (28.7%), container ships (13.2%), other types (11.3%) and general cargo ships (4%).

Only three countries (South Korea, China and Japan) built 91.8% of world tonnage (TRG) in 2016. South Korea had the highest proportion with 38.1%.

Four countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China) together accounted for 94.9% of shipbreaking in 2016 (TRG).

According to the article, the data confirm a continuing trend of consolidation of the industry, in which different countries specialize in different maritime subsectors, as concluded by the UNCTAD 2016 Shipping Survey and in a special chapter of the 2011 Review.

In addition, the increasing participation of developing countries in many maritime sectors is confirmed.