Spanish Shipbuilding Industry Enjoys Its Strongest Momentum in Fifteen Years with a Record Order Book: 65 Projects Worth €3 Billion

PYMAR confirms the industry's positive outlook at its General Shareholders' Meeting, attended by Spain's Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu.

PYMAR has confirmed, during its General Shareholders' Meeting, the strong performance of the Spanish shipbuilding industry, which has consolidated its position as Europe's second-largest shipbuilding power and a "global benchmark" in high value-added segments, including offshore wind support vessels, oceanographic vessels, aquaculture vessels, large fishing vessels, passenger transport, and security and defence ships.

With an order book of 65 vessels currently under construction, valued at more than €3 billion and generating 16 million working hours, the industry has reached its highest level of activity in the past fifteen years, according to the association representing Spain's small and medium-sized shipyards. "The figures speak for themselves," it stated, also highlighting the high level of activity in the ship repair and conversion sectors. Spanish shipyards are currently undertaking more than 1,000 major projects, with turnover exceeding the average of the past five years by more than 15%.

From a socio-economic perspective, the Spanish shipbuilding industry supports 89,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributes more than €12.7 billion to the national economy. It has also established itself as one of the main export drivers of Spanish industry, with more than 90% of new contracts awarded by international shipowners.

"The Spanish shipbuilding industry is an example of how investment in innovation, specialisation and added value strengthens the industrial base of both Spain and Europe," said Spain's Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, who closed the meeting by highlighting the importance of public-private collaboration. "The Government is proud to support PYMAR on this journey; it is a clear example of our country's industrial strength," he said.

According to Almudena López del Pozo, Chief Executive Officer of PYMAR, the strong position of the Spanish shipbuilding industry is the result of a strategy based on three pillars: continuous investment in technological innovation, the support of robust financial instruments, and public-private cooperation. "Preserving our industrial capabilities means preserving our capacity to make our own decisions," she said during her speech. López del Pozo emphasised the "irreplaceable" role of the Spanish shipbuilding industry in strengthening the European Union's energy and strategic autonomy, while calling on all stakeholders to embrace their "collective responsibility." "We are facing a historic opportunity to consolidate a genuine European industrial policy for shipbuilding, and we have the support needed to achieve it," she concluded.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras