Greece is S. Korean shipyards' biggest customer for 2nd year

Greek shipowners have placed orders for 52 ships totaling 2.05 million compensated gross tons (CGT) from South Korea so far this year, covering 20 percent of the country’s total orders.

This is the second straight year that Greece is the biggest customer for South Korean shipyards.

Japan is a distant second with 22 ships or 1.66 million CGT, and Norway came in at third with 14 ships or 1.22 million CGT.

Greece contributed immensely to helping the Korean shipbuilding industry retain its top spot globally.

Angelicoussis Shipping Group, Greece’s largest shipper, has placed orders for 119 ships from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. since 1994, which is the largest-ever ship deal between a single shipyard and shipowner.

This month, Minerva Marine Inc. placed an order with Samsung Heavy Industries Co. for two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers worth 589.7 billion won ($438 million), whilst Atlas Marine signed a contract with Daehan Shipbuilding Co. last month for the construction of two Aframax tankers.