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The data shows there were at least 78 orders for large LNG carriers in 2024.
This compares to about 68 vessel orders in 2023 and more than 170 orders recorded in 2022, which was a record year.
The large number of orders in 2022 resulted in limited availability of slots at Korean yards.
30 LNG carrier orders in China
China State Shipbuilding Corporation and its units secured a record 49 orders in 2022, boosted by the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program. Including other yards, LNG carrier orders in 2022 reached 55 vessels.
In 2023, Chinese yards won in total 17 LNG carrier orders.
LNG Prime estimates that Chinese yards booked in total 30 LNG carrier orders in 2024, more than in 2023 but less compared to 2022.
This year, state-owned LNG giant QatarEnergy ordered 24 QC-Max LNG carriers at Hudong-Zhonghua. These orders are worth about $8 billion.
Each of the world’s largest LNG vessels will be 344 meters long, 53.6 meters wide, and will have a draft of 12 meters.
Eight of the 18 QC-Max size LNG vessels will be delivered in 2028 and 2029, while the other six will be delivered in 2030 and 2031.
These QC-Max orders increased the total number of LNG vessels on order under QatarEnergy’s fleet expansion program to 128, including 104 conventional-sized vessels.
Besides Hudong-Zhonghua, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC) won an order from China’s Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation in September 2024 to build two 175,000-cbm LNG carriers.
DSIC also won a contract to build two 175,000-cbm LNG carriers for a joint venture consisting of China Gas, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, and CSSC Shipping.
This year, Denmark’s Celsius Tankers, a unit of Celsius Shipping, also ordered two 180,000-cbm LNG carriers from China Merchants Heavy Industry in Jiangsu.
These orders for vessels number five and six were announced by Jeppe Jensen, founder and chairman of Celsius in October 2023.
However, the shipbuilding agreements were signed this year.
Korean yards won orders for 48 LNG carriers
In South Korea, Hanwha Ocean, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and its units, and Samsung Heavy won orders for at least 48 LNG carriers, according to our calculations.
This compares to about 51 vessels in 2023.
Hanwha Ocean, previously known as DSME, secured orders for 18 LNG carriers this year.
Most recently, Hanwha Ocean booked an order to build two 174,000-cbm LNG carriers for Greece’s Maran Gas, the gas shipping unit of Angelicoussis.
The orders include 12 LNG carriers as part of the giant QatarEnergy shipbuilding program and four LNG carriers for UAE’s Adnoc L&S.
Hanwha Ocean also secured an order for one FSRU from Japan’s MOL.
As of the end of September 2024, Hanwha Ocean had 77 LNG vessels on its orderbook.
Moreover, Samsung Heavy won orders for 22 LNG carriers in 2024.
In October, Samsung Heavy won an order for one LNG carrier tied to K Line, while the shipbuilder also won an order from Malaysia’s MISC for two 174,000-cbm LNG carriers.
Samsung Heavy also secured a contract from Adnoc L&S to build four LNG carriers.
In February this year, Samsung Heavy won a contract to build 15 LNG carriers under the QatarEnergy shipbuilding program.
In addition to LNG carriers, Samsung Heavy won an order to build Cedar LNG’s floating liquefaction unit.
As of the end of November 2024, Samsung Heavy had 89 LNG carriers in its order book.
Data by HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering shows that HD Hyundai yards won orders for a total of 16 LNG carriers this year.
Out of these, HD Hyundai Heavy won orders for 3 vessels, Hyundai Mipo won orders for 7 vessels, and Hyundai Samho secured orders for 6 ships, according to HD KSOE.
However, these statistics include one FSRU and seven LNG bunkering vessels.
Hyundai Mipo’s LNG vessels are all for bunkering ships.
HD Hyundai Heavy won orders for two LNG carriers tied to Greece’s Evalend and MOL’s FSRU.
As of the end of November 2024, HD Hyundai Heavy had 60 LNG vessels in its order book.
In February this year, Hyundai Samho secured orders for four LNG carriers tied to Evangelos Marinakis-led Capital, while Nakilat ordered two LNG carriers in the month before.