SOUTH Korea's shipbuilding companies received 3.26 million gross tonnes of orders during the first half of this year, up 65 per cent from the same period last year.
The Korea Shipbuilders' Association said Korean shipbuilders received one million gross tonnes of new shipbuilding orders last month alone, the largest monthly figure ever, aided by the yen's appreciation against the US dollar early this year.
The stronger yen made Japanese-built ships about five to 10 per cent more expensive than Korean-built ships, an association official said.
Japan is the world's largest shipbuilding nation, commanding nearly half the world market. It is followed by South Korea, which has a 25 per cent market share.
The official said aggressive marketing activity by Korean companies in the wake of recent capacity expansion helped increase orders.
During the six months, Hyundai Heavy Industries, the country's largest shipbuilder, received the most shipbuilding orders, 792,000 gross tonnes.
