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

India has emerged as the world's leading ship-recycling nation in 2025, with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways citing UNCTAD data that places the country's global share at 35.4 percent, up from 30.1 percent in 2024. The volume of tonnage dismantled rose to about 2.99 million gross tons, propelling India past a key Maritime India Vision 2030 target well ahead of schedule.

Alang and the yards driving the surge

Much of the activity is concentrated at Alang in Gujarat, long the centre of India's ship-breaking industry, alongside other coastal yards. The sector recovers vast quantities of steel and reusable equipment from end-of-life vessels, feeding raw material back into the economy and sustaining thousands of jobs in the surrounding region.

Officials attribute the jump in market share to a mix of policy support, credit-note incentives and sustained engagement with shipowners and recyclers. These measures have made Indian yards more attractive at a time when global tonnage being retired remains high.

Hitting a 2030 target early

Reaching the Maritime India Vision 2030 milestone ahead of time is a notable marker of intent. The plan set out ambitious goals for the country's maritime economy, and an early win on recycling tonnage strengthens the narrative that India can scale its port-led industries faster than projected.

The achievement also positions India to align with the Hong Kong International Convention framework, which sets safer and more environmentally sound standards for ship recycling worldwide.

Opportunity matched by responsibility

The expansion is not without its obligations. Ship recycling has historically raised concerns over worker safety, hazardous materials and coastal pollution. As volumes grow, the pressure mounts to ensure that the industry balances job creation and steel recovery against the protection of workers and the marine environment, and against compliance with tightening international rules.

• India's global ship-recycling share rose to 35.4% in 2025 from 30.1% in 2024
• Tonnage recycled reached about 2.99 million gross tons
• Maritime India Vision 2030 target met ahead of schedule
• Alang and other yards anchor steel recovery and rural employment
• Worker safety, coastal environment and global compliance remain key challenges

The outlook is broadly positive, provided India can keep regulatory standards in step with rising volumes. Sustaining leadership will depend not just on capturing more tonnage but on demonstrating that growth can coexist with safer practices and cleaner coastlines, turning a numerical milestone into a durable, responsible industry.

The NE Times View

Topping global ship recycling years ahead of target is a genuine industrial achievement, and Alang's scale is hard to match. But leadership in this trade carries an asterisk: worker safety and toxic-waste handling have long trailed the tonnage. Meeting a Maritime Vision number is the easy half. The harder, more meaningful target is making Indian yards the cleanest and safest in the world, not merely the busiest.

This article is original commentary and analysis by The NE Times. Background facts were referenced from Business Standard and The Economic Times.