India Becomes World's Top Ship Recycling Nation in 2025

📌 Summary:

• India became the world's leading ship recycling nation in 2025, with its global share rising to 35.4% (from 30.1% in 2024), as per UNCTAD
• Ship recycling volume rose nearly 60% to 2.99 million gross tons (GT) in 2025, from 1.86 million GT in 2024
• The Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 target of becoming the global leader was achieved five years ahead of schedule
• Policy enablers: India enacted the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 and ratified the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) in 2019; Rs.53.5 crore financial assistance helped 115 yards become HKC-compliant
• The Ship-breaking Credit Note Scheme gives ship owners a credit note worth 40% of a recycled ship's scrap value, usable toward up to 5% of the cost of a new vessel built in India — promoting both recycling and domestic shipbuilding
• India is pursuing inclusion in the EU Ship Recycling Regulations (EUSRR) list and plans to nearly double capacity to ~9 million LDT via expansion of the Alang yard; BIMCO expects 16,000+ vessels to be recycled globally over the next decade

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (sustainable development, environment-compliant industry, circular economy, blue economy). Links international environmental conventions (HKC) with domestic industrial policy and shipbuilding.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Alang (Gujarat) is the world's largest ship recycling yard
• The Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was adopted in 2009 and entered into force in June 2025
• UNCTAD = United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; data source for the global ranking

🔑 Key Term: Hong Kong Convention (HKC) — the IMO convention setting standards for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, which India ratified in 2019.