New Delhi: India shipbuilding output rose sharply in 2025, showing strong growth in the country’s maritime manufacturing sector. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India’s shipbuilding output increased from 40.9K Gross Tonnes (GT) in 2024 to 57.6K GT in 2025, a 41% year-on-year rise. The ministry said the figures are based on a UNCTAD assessment.
This is an important sign for India’s shipping and industrial sectors. It suggests that domestic shipyards are building more vessels and that the country is trying to strengthen its place in the global maritime value chain.
India Shipbuilding Output: Key Numbers
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
| India shipbuilding output | 40.9K GT | 57.6K GT | +41% |
GT (Gross Tonnage) is a measure used in shipping to show the internal volume or size of a vessel.
Read also: Major Ports Cargo Handling FY 2025–26: India Surpasses 904 MT Target with Record 915 MT Throughout
India Shipbuilding Output: What the Government Said
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the growth reflects:
- stronger shipbuilding capability in India
- better maritime infrastructure
- rising importance of India in global maritime manufacturing
- support for the country’s wider Blue Economy goals
The ministry presented the jump as a milestone for the Maritime India vision and for India’s push to build more capacity at home instead of depending heavily on foreign yards.
What is the Importance of Higher India Shipbuilding Output
Shipbuilding is not only about making ships. It supports many other industries too, such as:
- Steel
- Heavy engineering
- Marine equipment
- Electronics and navigation systems
- Ports and logistics services
- Skilled and semi-skilled jobs
So, when shipbuilding output rises, it can help create a wider industrial impact across the economy.
India’s Bigger Maritime Push
India has been trying to improve its maritime sector through:
- Port modernization
- Better cargo handling systems
- Coastal shipping development
- Inland waterways expansion
- Shipbuilding and ship repair support
- Stronger maritime manufacturing under the Blue Economy strategy
UNCTAD also regularly tracks global shipping, fleet trends, shipbuilding, and maritime trade patterns. Its statistics are widely used to understand how countries are performing in shipping-related industries.
What Is Driving the India Shipbuilding Output
While the ministry’s post did not give a detailed breakup by ship type or shipyard, the 41% rise may point to a mix of factors:
Better capacity utilization at Indian shipyards
Existing shipyards may be getting more orders or completing projects faster.
Policy support for maritime manufacturing
India has been trying to improve self-reliance in strategic sectors, including shipbuilding and marine infrastructure.
Growing focus on coastal and inland shipping
As India expands coastal trade and inland waterways, demand for different types of vessels can also rise.
Global supply chain shifts
Many countries are looking to diversify manufacturing and reduce overdependence on a few shipbuilding hubs. India may be trying to use this opportunity.
