Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has recently won an order for two 200,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers at a price of US$250 million (about 360.5 billion won) for each, according to BusinessKorea. This is the most expensive LNG carrier order awarded to Korean shipbuilders this year. It is the highest price since the third quarter of 2008. The client is known to be Venture Global LNG of the United States.
Globally, LNG carrier prices are on a steady rise. According to Clarkson Research, a British shipbuilding and shipping market analysis firm, newbuild prices for LNG carriers rose for the seventh week in a row, reaching US$247 million (about 354 billion won) last week.
Growing demand for eco-friendly energy along with a global decarbonization trend is also having a major impact on the prices.
Korean shipbuilders, who are leading the LNG carrier market, have become more selective in winning orders. “Demand for LNG carriers has increased, but Korean shipbuilders’ order backlogs are now full for three years, which is pushing up LNG carrier prices,” said an official of the Korean shipbuilding industry.