Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 shared data from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways showing that India's share in global ship recycling rose to 35.4 per cent in 2025, citing the Shipping Ministry's official figures. The post, shared via the NaMo App, highlights a continued upward trajectory for one of India's most strategically important maritime industries.

Context

India has historically been among the world's leading destinations for ship recycling, with Alang in Gujarat serving as the nerve centre of the country's ship-breaking capacity. The latest figure of 35.4 per cent global market share, as reported by the Shipping Ministry, underscores India's dominant position in an industry that competes closely with Bangladesh and Pakistan. The data was shared by Minister Singh as a marker of sectoral progress under the current government.

Policy Backdrop

India enacted the Recycling of Ships Act in 2019 to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. The legislation was a significant step toward formalising the sector, improving environmental compliance standards at yards like Alang, and strengthening India's competitiveness on the global stage. Successive governments have also promoted ship recycling under the broader blue economy and Make in India frameworks, seeking to attract more tonnage while raising safety standards for maritime workers.

Stakeholders and Impact

The ship recycling sector directly supports tens of thousands of maritime workers, steel recyclers, and ancillary industries concentrated in Gujarat. A rising global market share translates into greater volumes of steel scrap recovery, supporting downstream industries and reducing import dependence. For the ship recycling industry, the 35.4 per cent figure signals that regulatory upgrades under the 2019 Act have not eroded India's cost and capacity advantages over regional competitors.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the Shipping Ministry's subsequent annual statistics and any parliamentary updates on the implementation of the Recycling of Ships Act. Analysts and industry bodies will watch whether India can consolidate and expand its share further, particularly as global shipping fleets age and the volume of vessels entering the recycling pipeline is expected to increase through the late 2020s. Regulatory harmonisation with international environmental norms will remain a key variable in sustaining India's competitive edge.