PIB TrackerIndia becomes the world's No.1 ship-recycling nation, hitting its 2030 target five years early
India's share of global ship recycling jumped to 35.4% in 2025 (UNCTAD), overtaking rivals — a milestone for the Alang yards driven by the Recycling of Ships Act and the newly-in-force Hong Kong Convention on safe, green ship-breaking.
What happened
- India has emerged as the world's leading ship-recycling nation in 2025, ranking first globally.
- Its share of global ship recycling increased to 35.4% in 2025 (from 30.1% in 2024), the highest in the world, according to UNCTAD.
- Ship recycling in India rose nearly 60% to 2.99 million gross tons (GT) in 2025, up from 1.86 million GT in 2024.
- With this, the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 target of becoming the world's leading ship-recycling nation has been achieved five years ahead of schedule.
- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal credited sustained policy reforms, ease-of-doing-business initiatives and adherence to international environmental and safety standards.
For Prelims
- Alang (Gujarat): Home to the world's largest ship-breaking/recycling yard (Alang-Sosiya), on the Gulf of Khambhat — the hub of India's ship-recycling industry.
- Recycling of Ships Act, 2019: India's law regulating safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, which also enabled India's accession to the Hong Kong Convention.
- Hong Kong International Convention (2009): The IMO convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships; it entered into force on 26 June 2025 — India is a party.
- UNCTAD: The UN Conference on Trade and Development — its Review of Maritime Transport tracks global shipping and ship-recycling data.
- Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030: A roadmap for the ports/shipping sector (succeeded by the broader 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047') with targets including leadership in ship recycling.
- Gross Tonnage (GT): A measure of a ship's overall internal volume (not weight); ship-recycling volumes are reported in GT.
- Don't confuse: Ship recycling/breaking (dismantling end-of-life ships) is an environmental and industrial activity governed by the Hong Kong Convention — distinct from shipbuilding; 'leading nation' is by share/volume of ships recycled.
For UPSC: India became the world's top ship-recycling nation in 2025 (35.4% global share, UNCTAD), meeting its MIV 2030 target early. Anchor Alang (Gujarat) as the world's largest ship-breaking yard, the Recycling of Ships Act 2019, the Hong Kong Convention (in force 26 June 2025), Maritime India Vision 2030/Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and the environmental-safety dimension of green ship recycling.
What it is NOT: This is leadership in ship RECYCLING/breaking (dismantling end-of-life vessels) — NOT shipbuilding. The ranking is by share of global ship recycling (UNCTAD), enabled by the Recycling of Ships Act 2019 and the Hong Kong Convention, not a one-off event.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.14 · GS3.8 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Green, regulated industrial leadership — India topping global ship recycling through reform and environmental-safety standards.
Substantiation (data)
India No.1 in ship recycling 2025; 35.4% global share (from 30.1%); 2.99 million GT (+60%); MIV 2030 target met 5 years early.
Exemplification
Cite Alang and the Hong Kong Convention/Recycling of Ships Act as examples of formalising a hazardous industry into safe, standards-compliant recycling.
Problematisation
Worker safety, hazardous waste (asbestos/oil), coastal pollution and competition (Bangladesh/Pakistan/Turkey) remain challenges in ship recycling.
Way-forward
Sustain HKC-compliant yards, improve worker safety and waste management, move up the value chain (steel recovery, circular economy) and retain competitiveness.
Position
Government stance: maritime reforms and environmental-safety standards have made India the world leader in safe, green ship recycling, achieved ahead of schedule.
Deploys into: Maritime sector & circular economy (ship recycling) · Hong Kong Convention & Recycling of Ships Act · Maritime India Vision 2030/Amrit Kaal 2047 · environment & worker safety (GS3.14 conservation & pollution, GS3.8 industrial policy & liberalisation).
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways · 2026-06-22 · PRID 2276739 · PIB source ↗