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India Becomes the World's Top Ship Recycling Nation in 2025

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In 2025, India emerged as the world's leading ship recycling nation, capturing 35.4% of the global market share with a recycling volume of 2.99 million gross tons, marking a significant rise from 30.1% and 1.86 million gross tons in 2024. The ship recycling industry is primarily concentrated in Alang, Gujarat, one of the world's largest ship recycling yards. This achievement was reached ahead of the Maritime India Vision 2030 target. The government's Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, aligned with the Hong Kong International Convention that became mandatory on 26 June 2025, has played a vital role in setting environmental and safety standards. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has also provided substantial financial support for modernization to ensure compliance and expand capacity.

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Key Facts

  • India's share in global ship recycling increased to 35.4% in 2025 from 30.1% in 2024.
  • Ship recycling volume in India rose to 2.99 million gross tons in 2025 compared to 1.86 million gross tons in 2024.
  • Alang, Gujarat hosts one of the largest ship recycling yards globally, forming the core of India's ship recycling industry.
  • The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, provides the legal framework aligning with the Hong Kong International Convention on ship recycling, which India ratified in 2019; the convention became mandatory on 26 June 2025.
  • Government provided financial assistance of ₹253.5 crore to modernize 115 ship recycling facilities to comply with international standards.
  • Plans exist to expand ship recycling capacity at Alang to approximately 9 million light displacement tons.
  • South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, remains a leading region globally in ship recycling volumes.

Background & Context

Ship recycling includes dismantling end-of-life vessels to recover steel, machinery, and other materials. India’s ship recycling sector, especially in Alang, is notable for its scale and has become a global leader. The Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) aims to ensure environmentally sound and safe ship recycling practices; India ratified it in 2019. The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, frames India’s compliance with the HKC. Modernization efforts with government support have enabled Indian yards to meet the Convention’s safety and environmental standards. India achieved the status of the world’s top ship recycling nation in 2025, ahead of the Maritime India Vision 2030 goals.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

This topic is relevant for competitive exams focusing on India’s maritime sector, industrial policy, environmental law, and international maritime regulations. Questions may focus on India’s global rank in ship recycling, the role and provisions of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, the Hong Kong Convention's significance, and government initiatives such as capacity building and financial assistance. Understanding the technical terms like gross tonnage and light displacement tonnage is also useful.

Points to Remember

  • India became the world's top ship recycling nation in 2025 with a 35.4% global share.
  • Alang, Gujarat is the primary hub for ship dismantling in India.
  • The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 enforces international standards in line with the Hong Kong Convention effective 26 June 2025.
  • The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways provided ₹253.5 crore for modernizing 115 ship recycling yards.
  • Expansion plans aim to increase capacity to about 9 million light displacement tons.
  • Gross tonnage measures internal ship volume; light displacement tonnage measures ship weight without cargo or fuel.
  • South Asia remains a major global ship recycling region, with India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan leading.
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