03 February 2014

Shipbreaking sector ‘in good health’

Global: India continued to dominate a global shipbreaking industry that remained 'in good health' last year, according to French monitoring group Robin Des Bois.

Together with Pakistan and Bangladesh, India accounted for more than two-thirds of all business. Some 1119 vessels were scrapped in 2013 for a decline of 16% over the previous year while the volume of metal recycled fell 20% to around 9 million tonnes. 'But 2013 is still by far the second best year for the industry since 2006,' the analyst notes.

India headed the list of ships recycled with 343 vessels scrapped (26% of the market), followed by China on 239 (18%) and Bangladesh on 210 (16%). Turkey and Pakistan were responsible for scrapping 136 and 104 ships, respectively. In terms of metal recycled, India once again led the way on 2.8 million tonnes (31%), with Bangladesh on 2.3 million tonnes, China on 1.7 million tonnes and Pakistan on 1.4 million tonnes.

'The number of scrapped container ships is again on the rise,' Robin Des Bois points out. 'They accounted for 180 or 16% of all vessels demolished.' Among the other vessels scrapped, 387 were bulkers, 245 were cargo and 39 were ro-ro.

The report also points out that 'giants' are increasingly being sent for scrapping, with 39 ships measuring over 300 metres compared to 31 in 2012 and 24 in 2011. In line with a persistent trend, the age of scrapped vessels is still dropping - with 28 years the average in 2013.

Source: recycling international.  3 February 2014

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