India becomes world's top ship recycler with 35.4% global share in 2025
India became the world's leading ship recycling nation in 2025, achieving a key target under the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 ahead of schedule, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report cited by the Shipping Ministry on Monday.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said that according to the latest UNCTAD report, India increased its share of global ship recycling activity to 35.4% in 2025 from 30.1% in 2024.
The country recycled 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) of ships in the year, marking a nearly 60% increase from 1.86 million GT in 2024. The achievement reflects the impact of a series of maritime policy reforms and ease-of-doing-business initiatives undertaken by the government to strengthen the sector, it said.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said India's emergence as the world's top ship recycling nation demonstrates the success of sustained policy reforms, industry participation, and adherence to international environmental and safety standards.
The MoPSW has introduced several measures to strengthen India's ship recycling ecosystem. These include the implementation of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, which aligns the sector with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. India ratified the convention in 2019.
The government has also provided ₹53.5 crore in financial assistance to modernise ship recycling yards, enabling 115 facilities to become compliant with international standards. In addition, the Ship-breaking Credit Note Scheme offers incentives to ship owners by allowing them to use credits earned from recycling vessels towards the purchase of new ships built in Indian shipyards.
India is also pursuing the inclusion of its recycling facilities in the European Union's approved list of ship recycling yards. Meanwhile, plans are afoot to nearly double the capacity of the Alang ship recycling yard to about 9 million light displacement tonnes (LDT), further strengthening the country's position in the global market.
With more than 16,000 vessels expected to be recycled worldwide over the next decade, India is well placed to consolidate its leadership in sustainable and environmentally responsible ship recycling.
