India became the world’s leading ship recycling nation in 2025, according to the latest report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in May 2026.
- India’s share in global ship recycling increased from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025.
- Ship recycling volume in India rose to 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) in 2025, compared to 1.86 million GT in 2024, registering an increase of nearly 60%.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated that India’s rise reflects:
- Successful policy reforms
- Industry participation
- Compliance with international environmental and safety standards
- He emphasized that India is emerging as a global hub for responsible and sustainable ship recycling.
