Samsung Heavy Industries Wins $310 Million Order for Two Container Ships

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on August 31 that it had won a contract to build two container ships for an African shipping company, worth roughly 444.5 billion won, or about $310 million. The vessels are slated for delivery by December 2028.

The order adds to what has already been a strong year for the company's merchant vessel business. With this latest win, Samsung Heavy has now secured 36 merchant vessels in 2026 worth a combined $6.1 billion, or roughly 8.39 trillion won. That figure surpasses the division's annual order target of $5.7 billion, equivalent to about 7.84 trillion won.

Liquefied natural gas carriers made up the largest share of this year's orders, with 14 vessels including two floating storage and regasification units. Crude oil tankers came next with 12 orders, followed by four container ships, four gas carriers and two ethane carriers.

Across all vessel categories, Samsung Heavy's total order intake for the year has reached about $10.5 billion, or roughly 14.44 trillion won, representing 76% of its overall annual target of $13.9 billion, or about 19.11 trillion won.

A company official said demand for container ships remains strong, particularly in the 8,000 to 13,000 TEU range, as shipowners look to replace older fleets with more environmentally friendly vessels. The official added that having already exceeded its merchant vessel target, the company would now prioritize selective, profitability-focused orders for the rest of the year.

The deal underscores the continued momentum in South Korea's shipbuilding sector, where major yards including Samsung Heavy have benefited from a global push toward fuel-efficient and lower-emission vessels, alongside sustained demand for LNG carriers tied to energy trade shifts.