HD Hyundai Samho has secured an order for two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers worth 741.2 billion won from a North American shipowner, the company announced on Nov. 18. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered sequentially by the second half of 2028.

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding division, has achieved 78.9% of its annual target ($18.05 billion) by securing orders for a total of 104 vessels ($14.24 billion), including this latest contract. By vessel type, the orders include 7 LNG carriers, 6 LNG bunkering vessels, 9 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia carriers, 2 ethane carriers, 61 container ships, 16 tankers, and 3 PC vessels.

Industry observers expect LNG carrier demand to surge significantly if the Donald Trump administration resumes approval of LNG projects. With signs of new LNG projects resuming in Europe and other regions, demand for vessels to transport LNG is expected to grow further. In particular, the United States has little incentive to order LNG carriers from Chinese shipbuilders, raising expectations for benefits to Korean shipyards.

According to French naval architecture company GTT, considering the 84 million tons of new LNG projects confirmed this year, demand for approximately 150 new LNG carriers is expected to emerge.
Source: Business Korea