Spanish shipbuilding industry added 25,162 GT to its order book in the first quarter of the year, 95% more than in 2024
Although only seven vessels were confirmed, compared to 19 last year, these are larger projects
Spanish shipbuilding industry managed to formalize seven contracts in the first quarter of the year. Specifically, these were six merchant vessels and one fishing vessel. The number of new projects is substantially lower than the 19 projects added to the order book between January and March 2024. However, the scale of the orders is greater, according to the Quarterly Shipbuilding Report published by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. Contracted GTs amounted to 25,162, compared to 12,878 during the same period last year. This represents a 95% increase. The report also confirms an increase in the foreign dimension of the activity of national shipyards, as six of the seven confirmed projects are for international shipowners, which account for 24,909 of the contracted GTs. In fact, GT exports grew by 216%, while those for the domestic market contracted by 95%.
As a result, Spanish private shipyards other book remains stable at 64 simultaneous projects (just one less than the same period last year), although total GT under construction grew by 10%, reaching 140,994 GT. A total of 12 vessels are for domestic shipowners (34,242 GT, 31% less than in the same period), while remaining 52 correspond to orders from foreign shipowners, with 106,752 GT and a 37% increase compared to the same quarter of 2024.
The quarterly leader was Murueta, which added to its order book a vessel for the live transport of farmed salmon for the Norwegian company Froy X AS (6,569 GT) and a new chemical tanker for Mureoil, a subsidiary of Naviera Murueta—which is also owned by the Biscayan shipyard itself—of 4,641 GT. Cardama, in Vigo, has formalized contracts for the two patrol vessels ordered by the Government of Uruguay (both 2,100 GT), while Nodosa, in Marín, has added an 85-meter trawler (2,726 GT) for Pesantar (Fishing Company of Patagonia and Antarctica), the Argentine company owned by Newsan (Argentina) and Vigo-based Profand, a specialist in toothfish, as well as a 235 GT, 50-ton tug for Amare Marín. Finally, Astilleros Ría de Vigo (Armón Group) has added to its order book the revolutionary eCSOV (Commissioning Service Operation Vessel), with electric propulsion, for the British company Bibby Marine, which will mark its debut in the offshore wind support vessel segment.
Adding up the construction capacity spread across its various shipyards, Grupo Armón remains at the forefront of the Spanish naval industry with 36 of the 64 projects currently under development. In GT, Armón has accumulated 52,450 GT, out of a total of 140,994 GT. By shipyard, the scale of the six projects Murueta is currently underway places it at the top of the national industry, with 29,842 GT under construction. It is followed by Gondán (four vessels of 20,840 GT in total) and Astilleros Armón Gijón, with two vessels (including a new ferry for Baleària) of 16,351 GT.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras